New Brent 'Gateway to Support Services' launches tomorrow without a website

I understand the 'Gateway to Support Services' provided by Age UK (Brent, Harrow and Hillingdon) at a cost of £1.5m will launch tomorrow without the promised website.  This leaves residents wanting to use the new advocacy and carers service unable to find out about referrals or contact them.

Readers will recall that the contract was awarded without Scrutiny due to 'officer oversight' LINK and has affected the financial viability of several Brent voluntary organisations.

The new organisation is due to offer:

• Care Act Advocacy
• Mental Health Act Advocacy
• Mental Capacity Act Advocacy
• Carers Services
• Social Isolation Prevention Services

Ironically Brent Advocacy Concerns, operated by unpaid volunteers from their  Willesden Community Hospital closed on Friday after 31 years as a result of the high rent demanded by NHS Property Services. A tiny fraction of that £1,5m would have enabled them to survive.