SARC ACCESSIBILTY CHARTER

SARC is committed to working to remove barriers to accessing our services so that all members of our community and all communities in our city can receive the support and assistance that our specialist team of advisors provide.

We meet our obligations under the Disability Equality Act (81% of our clients have a disability as defined by the Act) but strive to go further and recognise that different sections of our community may face specific issues in accessing our services.

As a small local charity, we do face some limitations on the resources available to us when meeting client needs but we make every effort to offer everyone a service tailored to their needs. Our Accessibility Charter seeks to identify the areas in which we strive to meet clients’ needs and we welcome suggestions and comments on its content.  The Charter can be read here.

Our work in 2022-2023, and our annual report

Our current Annual Report is available here: SARC Annual Report 2023.

For a copy of our 2021 Annual Report please click here: SARC Annual Report.

Operating arrangements

We support our clients by making the best use of technology to keep in touch.

We operate with booked face to face appointments, where this is the client’s preference.

Additionally we are able to offer help by phone, email, or video. Please contact us and we can work out what the best access route will be for you. We will continue to review how we can offer access to our service, taking Government safety advice into account.

If you need our help to get into contact with SARC please telephone us between 9am and 4:30pm, Monday to Friday, on 023 8043 1435. As a small team, we may not always be able to answer the phone promptly. As an alternative, the best method of contacting us may be the contact form at the top of the page, or click here.

SARC’s mission

For 40 years we have provided quality advice and representation in welfare benefits and employment. Our team of friendly, motivated and specialist advisers, work hard to ensure that you get the help you need when you need it.

As a registered charity with the Advice Quality Standard mark, we specialise in: welfare benefits and employment law advice. Our service is free, impartial and confidential. Depending on certain funding criteria we can provide a full service, from simple form filling, to representation at Social Security Tribunals, Employment Tribunals.

Please contact 023 8043 1435, or click here for full details of how we can help you and at what level.

Social Prescribing

SARC recognises that “social prescribing” the ability of health services to refer patients to advice and support services can play a vital role in addressing the wider determinants of health such as poverty and social isolation and in addressing unmet patient needs.

We believe that our services offering both advice and advocacy over a range of welfare and employment issues can contribute to better health and well-being outcomes to health service users and also reduce demand pressures on frontline NHS services.

SARC has links with a range of health professionals in Southampton which are working well in ensuring patents can access timely advice and support.

We are keen, subject to capacity, to build on this approach and expand what we can offer through closer working with primary care and other health services.

Some examples of the range of cases we deal with