Benefits of KeyRing

People we support

Commissioners

Local communities

Public health

Housing providers

Benefits for people we support

"Having KeyRing support in my life has really made a difference, as they’ve always been there for me. Even if I’ve been feeling upset and needed a friendly chat. It’s been nice popping round to see Andrea, our volunteer, when I get home."

- Thomas B

A group of men smiling and holding a sign that says 'Friends'

We know that everyone who joins KeyRing is looking for some support and we are happy to offer that support. We can support people with things like looking after their home, budgeting, making appointments, taking care of their mental and physical health and many other things.

KeyRing support is flexible which means that we can change the support that we provide to fit in with the person.

Unlike many other support providers, we also want to support people to connect with other people and to share their skills. This is often called peer or mutual support.

We also connect people with their local community. So that they can be more involved and even better connected.

People who are connected are less lonely and healthier.

The best thing about being connected is that you have lots of different people in your life who can support you when you need it. This really helps people on their journey to independence.

Benefits for commissioners

KeyRing deliver models of support that build independence and connection.

By using peer support, co-production and linking people in with their community we reduce reliance on services. This results in increased independence for the individual and sustainably decreased costs for the funder. It also means that our support is flexible, people have a wider network of support and our teams can be adaptive to the people they support whether that be in response to a crisis or to celebrate a step towards independence.

A study by Housing LIN demonstrates a net financial benefit of £131,142 per annum across 30 people using the KeyRing model. In addition, KeyRing support generates wider preventative financial benefits from the avoidance of crisis and non-crisis outcomes of £278,347 per annum.

People who are connected have fewer mental health issues, a longer lifespan and improved physical health.¹ They are also less likely to be calling social worker teams or statutory services for any small issues that they encounter.

A close up of someone's hands signing paperwork

KeyRing support is designed to build more interdependence and offers people alternatives to traditional support. By linking in with existing community resources people become active citizens who contribute to and are valued by their local community.

This asset-based community development approach means that local community assets (people, resources etc) and individual's strengths unlock sustainable community development and ensure that people live the life they choose.

We work with other providers to reduce the support packages that people receive and challenge people to take steps towards independence that they didn’t think possible.

People can reduce their level of KeyRing support but know that we can be there if they experience an issue. Support run by KeyRing is open to people who are no longer in receipt of services if they have any one-off issues. If we recognise that there is something wider we can refer people back in. This helps to prevent crisis and the costs associated with this such as homelessness.

With a 98% plus tenancy maintenance rate, we have a strong track record of working with people who are at risk of losing their home. We are experts at mediating and supporting people to work through complex situations.

¹ Campaign to End Loneliness

Benefits for local communities

Our local communities have so much to offer the people we support. The people we support have so much to offer their local communities. We have lots of stories where the people we support have helped out their neighbours or made changes in their local community.

KeyRing make great use of the resources in the community. There are hubs held in the community where anyone is welcome. We signpost people to local services and activities. We also invite local members of the community to speak with the people we support. We regularly welcome local Police, fitness specialists, community group leaders to our hub sessions.

You can see all the communities that we work in in our ‘where we work’ section.

Read about what our Members have been doing in their communities in the KeyRing News.

We support people to be good neighbours and to use their skills to help others.

Benefits for public health

The Local Government Association (LGA)’s Social Determinants of Health and the Role of Local Government (July 2020) states:

“Vulnerable adults may have some of the poorest health outcomes in the community. For example, women with a learning disability have a life expectancy 18 years lower than women without a learning disability. This gap can be reduced through support for housing, educational, employment and social opportunities.”

People who are connected have less mental health issues, a longer lifespan and improved physical health.¹

Mental health pressures continue to create significant demand in public health services and KeyRing’s uninterrupted and adaptable support helps prevent crisis in a person’s mental wellbeing.

People are supported to use health and care services appropriately. Support can include:

Supporting people to engage with medical professionals
Encouraging people to use emergency services appropriately and providing alternatives such as use of our dedicated out of hours line
Supporting people to take responsibility for their medication and setting up monitoring systems

¹ Campaign to end loneliness

Robert*

Robert's financial difficulties were overwhelming him.

Smiling man

Robert had become very anxious during lockdown and this was increased by his sister and her partner asking him for money.

After one of these times, Robert had a breakdown and called us. He said he was thinking of throwing himself into the river.

We worked together, called the ambulance and spoke with them about Robert’s situation. Robert was fine and safe and we provided some, carefully risk assessed face-to-face support. We contacted Safer Neighbourhood’s Police Team and an officer came to explain to Robert how to protect himself from fraud and financial crime.

Robert was very glad with this meeting and his mood has improved a lot. He is now better able to avoid fraud and financial abuse.

Ben*

Ben had seizures and often presented at A&E.

Smiling man

Ben had frequent seizures and asthma attacks. He often went to his local accident and emergency department. KeyRing supported Ben to find a new GP that he liked and trusted. KeyRing supported him to understand his medication and to attend his appointments. Ben now has a good relationship with his doctor and attends regular planned appointments. He takes his medication and no longer needs to attend A&E.

Ben was also supported with his mental health. He had previously isolated himself when he felt depressed. He was referred for counselling and supported to increase his social circle. He has since started volunteering for a local charity.

Move on - Ben does not receive a funded place within the KeyRing Network now but does come along to our weekly hub where he can discuss any issues.

Benefits for housing providers

KeyRing's model of support is designed to build independence and reduce reliance on support. People have their own tenancies or own their own properties just like everyone else.

For housing providers there are many benefits to working with KeyRing. One key benefit is a 98% tenancy maintenance rate.

We often work with people who are at risk of homelessness. We ensure that the people we support understand their responsibility as a tenant.

As a local presence in the area we work closely with housing providers and provide early warning of any concerns. Whether or not this involves someone that we support directly.

We address a range of ambitions that are supportive to local communities and housing providers alike. For example:

support with move on following the death of a parent/carer, to help free up multi-bedroom accommodation
support with anti-social behaviours and neighbour disputes
bespoke tenancy related support
benefit maximization
local knowledge and use of community resources

Jane*

Jane was hoarding and at risk of losing her tenancy.

Woman with long hair

Jane was referred to KeyRing so that she could receive support with her tenancy. She was at risk of eviction due to the state of her flat. When we met her we couldn’t even get into her flat due to the levels of hoarding. There was pressure from the environmental health services, her housing provider and her neighbours.

We met with Jane in the community and developed a relationship with her until she felt comfortable enough to give us access to her flat. Jane was sleeping in a chair in the hallway. She had bags from floor to ceiling and was urinating in empty bottles as she couldn’t get through to the bathroom.

A multi-agency meeting was pulled together involving Jane, the local authority, the housing provider environmental health and the fire service.

KeyRing supported Jane to find her own ways to own the next steps. This involved building a relationship with a cleaning company that Jane contracted to complete a clean.

We supported Jane with her mental health throughout the process and supported her to build community connections. This meant that Jane’s life expanded beyond the walls of her flat and weas a welcome distraction especially while the clean was ongoing.

Jane has been supported to attend a local hoarding support group and has been very happy to share her story so that it can help others.

Jane says she has never felt better and couldn’t believe that she was living in such a state.