Apex works in some of the most deprived communities within Northern Ireland and increasingly sees itself working beyond its core business activities. The impact of recession, welfare reform, spending cuts and unemployment is severely affecting the already disadvantaged members of society that we serve.
Apex now seeks to deliver a range of programmes and activities that will make a change to people’s lives. Through investing in people, property and the environment, we aim to make a real difference to the way people live their lives. To help achieve this Apex have opened the Apex Living Centre in Springtown, Derry~Londonderry.
The centre is designed to enable tenants and residents to access a range of initiatives including: self-development programmes, advice on health and well-being and budgeting. The centre is well resourced with an IT training suite and demonstration kitchen.
Recently funding was secured from The Community Fund for Northern Ireland and Santander to run a ‘Cook on a Budget’ course where tenants and their families attended the Apex Living Centre and were taught to cook nutritious and healthy meals on a budget. As part of the programme the tenants werealso given training on budgeting.
One of the first Social Supermarkets in Northern Ireland will also be situated in the Apex Living Centre. The social supermarket will be known as the Apex Food Club and is funded by the Department of Communities. The food club will offer fresh, frozen, dried and tinned goods for those tenants who are currently experiencing food poverty.
To be a member you must be:
- In receipt of welfare benefits and / or tax credits
- Experiencing food poverty
- Committed to addressing the root cause of your food poverty.
Members will pay £5 a week and can choose approximately £25 of food in return.
Membership lasts as long as the individual requires the support to help them out of food poverty. A Success Plan is developed through collaboration with the Food Club member and the Food Club Manager to put measures in place that will prevent a return to food poverty. Wraparound services that are offered include:
- Money management
- Cooking and nutrition
- Grow your own workshops
- Skills Development Workshops – training, employability, volunteering
- Managing Stress
- Positive Mental Health
- Low level exercise programmes.
Affordable Credit Project
Apex continues to promote its Affordable Credit Project in partnership with Derry Credit Union. This enables tenants to get access to a credit union account as they may have been unable to previously.
It also allows them to get access to affordable credit without the need of a savings buffer. A tenant can apply for a loan of up to £350 without the need for savings; however they do need to show that they are capable of repaying the loan. The tenant will go through an Income and Expenditure with The Financial Inclusion Officer to ensure that they are able to meet the repayments.
With doorstep lenders being prevalent on our estates we wanted to ensure that the tenants where getting access to more affordable credit. The difference in interest between loans of £300 with the credit union to that from a doorstep lender is approximately £230.
Since the project started approximately £87,000 has been taken out in loans with over £20,000 saved in shares. Currently £15,175 is outstanding on the loans.