Here to Help: How DigitalMe is promoting a vital advice service in Gateshead
Our innovative DigitalMe programme is effective because of its simplicity; digital avatars that allow participants to share their stories anonymously. These stories are then used to raise awareness of issues and often, influence policy changes.
Gateshead Citizen’s Advice are using their DigitalMe animations in an interesting way to promote an important service at the QE Hospital.
If you work for the Gateshead Health Trust you are entitled to access a free advice service from Citizens Advice Gateshead for support you may need with anything from benefits to housing to money worries. The service is a quick and easy way for all trust staff to access trained advisers in a way that suits individual working patterns. The trust has used their DigitalMe to share real-life experiences of their service users, whilst preserving their privacy. These stories show the breadth of the advice and support available as well as how easy it is to access it.
Digital Voice made three films for the trust, tailoring them for different audiences; one that speaks directly to members of staff; another asking managers to signpost the service to their teams; a third which is specific to people living with or recovering from cancer.
In all three examples, the case studies have been converted into scripts which demonstrate not only the problems being faced by staff but also how the issues have been resolved; this highlights the sort of processes, timescales and likely outcomes. They also convey the very personal approach taken by Citizen’s Advice Gateshead, there’s no one-size-fits-all attitude, it’s a bespoke service where you will be supported by one adviser from start to finish.
This is particularly vital for those people already struggling with cancer. As well as the surgery, treatment and recovery it can impact all aspects of a person’s life; income and that of the people they live with; modifications needed at home; their ability to continue working or simply paying for parking at the hospital. It all adds up and it can quickly become overwhelming. That’s where this service can help.
Julia (not her real name), who features in the cancer service film, said this of her experience:
“I CAN’T ACTUALLY DESCRIBE HOW RELIEVED I WAS. THE FACT THAT I DIDN’T HAVE TO GO TO COURT, WHICH TERRIFIED ME, AND THAT THEY SORTED OUT ALL THE BENEFITS CLAIMS …THEY DON’T KNOW WHAT A HUGE DIFFERENCE IT’S MADE TO MY LIFE. EVEN JUST HAVING THEM, THE WORK AND PENSION PEOPLE, SAY THAT I WAS ACTUALLY ILL BECAUSE BEFORE I FELT LIKE THEY DIDN’T BELIEVE ME. THEY EVEN GOT ME A BLUE BADGE FOR PARKING AT THE HOSPITAL, WHICH SAVES ME A FORTUNE, AND MY COUNCIL TAX HAS COME DOWN.”
To find out more about DigitalMe and how it could help your organisation contact Julie Nicholson.