Launch of Welfare Advice Service at Deeplish Community Centre

Javed Akhtar, Welfare Advisor, Councillor Mohammed Zaman and a service user

Deeplish Community Centre has started holding weekly welfare advice surgeries.

Previously, the service was available to residents at Deeplish Community centre but due to reduced funding and resources in the local authority the service was stopped for a number of years, however, due to the local demand, the service has been brought back to the centre.

Deeplish Community Centre Chairman Mohammed Saleem said: “We are pleased to welcome our long outstanding and dedicated Advice Worker Javed Akhtar, who is well experienced, qualified and has been dealing with welfare advice for more than 20 years.

“Deeplish Community Centre is always responsive to community demands and hence we have requested the smartest advice worker of the town to deliver surgeries from Deeplish every week.”

Councillor Mohammed Zaman attended the first session and appreciated that the local community needs a bilingual worker to advise them on welfare rights and
to support people who are worried and suffering from mental and physical health issues due to stress and worry over welfare and financial circumstances.

Community Centre Manager Sohail Ahmad said: “We are always willing to support the local community through advice and signposting in all community matters and in these sessions we will be reducing financial pressures upon people due to the lack of help and support in welfare rights and benefits.

“It’s good to welcome Javed Akhtar who I believe is an outstanding worker and an authority on welfare advice matters.”