A NEW organisation to support people who need help to live independently has just been launched.

Those who use Southend Council's Supporting People service can take part in regular meetings to air their views, highlight improvements and take part in future planning.

The panel will meet every four weeks and has already produced a newsletter and video to show how the service helps its clients.

Supporting people officer Zoe McCallion said: "This is a local government programme which commissions services for people with housing needs.

"This could be anything from enabling young people to set up home to helping elderly people in sheltered housing.

"We have floating support workers, for instance with the YMCA Move-On project.

"They help clients who are moving into their first home to set up direct debits, budgeting schemes, to register with a doctor and a dentist, compile CVs and fill in job applications."

She added the Supporting People panel had been launched to give clients the chance to get together and see what improvements they thought could be made.

She said: "We are also including them in future planning so they can have their say and be involved at all levels."

Anyone interested in joining the panel can come along to the Civic Centre, in Victoria Avenue, Southend, on May 25 to see how it operates. The meeting starts at 4pm.