AN OXFORD charity estimates it has saved the public purse almost £2 million over five years.

The evaluation of Elmore Community Services’ mental health and complex needs floating support services shows that the charity’s interventions have saved an average of £368,000 a year.

The floating support services work with people who struggle to access services elsewhere.

Using data for the period covered by the financial years 2016/17 to 2020/21, the evaluation provided an estimated cost saving to the public purse of £1.9 million over five years.

Read also: Cycling group and councillors call for improved safety after crash death

Tom Hayes, chief executive of Elmore, said: “This new evaluation and cost-effectiveness analysis shows that Elmore’s services have contributed to an estimated saving to the public purse of £1.9m or £368,000 on average per year, as well as making important changes in the lives of service users.

“By helping to save such a large sum of money, Elmore has strengthened mental health service provision by enabling these funds to be spent on supporting more people in the ways that they respond to and can benefit from.”

Dr Bruno Holthof, chief executive of Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, paid particular praise to the work Elmore did during the pandemic.

He said: “Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK’s largest teaching hospitals and, in common with other NHS trusts, demand on our services is increasing.

“The creative role and positive contributions of Elmore Community Services over the last five years has significantly strengthened the resilience and ability of the trust to support the mental health and complex needs of local people.

“During the pandemic, when the third sector and the NHS have been put under enormous pressure, Elmore and the trust have continued to work closely in the interests of the wider health and social care system, and the people who depend on it.”

Read more: Oxfam at centre of appeal matched by Government for Ukraine refugees

Police and crime commissioner for the Thames Valley, Matthew Barber, said: “Working with partners such as Elmore Community Services supports us in addressing the causes and effects of criminality, thereby having a direct and positive impact in the communities we serve.

“Elmore persistently, non-judgementally, and flexibly seeks to engage local people and this type of assertive outreach enables us to work collaboratively to come up with solutions for the greater good.”

Oxfordshire County Council leader Liz Leffman added: “This new evaluation shows the positive impact that Elmore, and local statutory and third sector service providers make to the lives of Oxfordshire residents.

“Elmore has been able to save the public purse £1.9m over five years because of a collaborative style and dedication to the care of clients.

“Working closely with Oxfordshire County Council, Elmore is supporting people with mental ill health, complex needs, involvement in domestic abuse, and homelessness.”

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tik Tok

Got a story for us? Send us your news and pictures here

List an event for free on our website here