Perennial trials monthly ‘after work’ hours for Advice Line to help working horticulturists get in touch
Perennial, the horticulturist’s trade charity, is piloting late opening hours of its main advice helpline to give working horticulturists a chance to speak to an adviser after work.
Perennial, the horticulturist’s trade charity, is piloting late opening hours of its main advice helpline to give working horticulturists a chance to speak to an adviser after work. From the 5 November 2014, the Casework Advice Line (0800 093 8543) will open from noon – 8.30pm on the first Wednesday of every month. The helpline is open on other weekdays from 8.30am – 5pm.
Sheila Thomson, Director of Services at Perennial, says,
“We are constantly looking at ways we can improve and extend our service for existing and new clients. There are many barriers to people taking the first step in contacting us, pride and fear of refusal being the main ones, but we would like to reassure anyone working in or retired from horticulture that we are here to help. Over 85% of our clients are of working age and we hope that by offering an extended hours service each month will enable more people to get in touch.”
Perennial’s dedicated financial helpline, the Debt Advice Line (0800 093 8546), is operated by a team of trained debt advisers and already offers extended opening every Wednesday (noon – 8.30pm). The monthly extension to the general advice line will mean more horticulturists than ever have access to a trained professional Caseworker at a time that suits them.
Perennial helped over 1,200 people in 2013 and over 90% of them said that the charity had a ‘huge’ or ‘quite big’ positive effect on their lives. Kate has been helped by Perennial now for over 10 years and says it took courage to ask for help. She recalls those first conversations with a lasting sense of relief:
“We were visited by a Caseworker within days. She was, and still is, brilliant; a lifebelt in the flood. She seemed to know exactly what we needed and her advice and help was perfectly pitched. Looking back we simply couldn’t have coped during that time without Perennial.”
Perennial offers free and confidential advice to anyone who works in, or has worked in, the UK horticulture industry. Visit www.perennial.org.uk/advice or call 0800 093 8543 for information about how Perennial can help.
