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Photo Caption: (from left to right) Scott Kennerley, Money Advice Project Manager, Citizens Advice, Rosemary McCormick, Money Adviser, L'Derry CAB, John Devine, Chair, Citizens Advice, Arlene Foster, MLA, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Trevor Clarke, MLA and Derek Alcorn, Chief Executive, Citizens Advice
To read the associated Press Release click here...
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The Long Gallery in Stormont provided the venue for the launch of an independent research report commissioned from PSC Management into the “Dealing with Debt” service provided by Citizens Advice.
The event was attended by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Arlene Foster, MLA who welcomed the report and said, “I am proud of the working relationship we have with Citizens Advice and look forward to continuing to work and develop the service in the future. I acknowledge the contribution each of the advisers make to the service and how difficult this work can be but also how rewarding it must be to make a difference to people's lives."
The independent analysis of the debt advice provided by Citizens Advice showed that the debt advice provided by CAB is very well targeted to those in social need:
• almost half of all clients came from within the three most deprived deciles in Northern Ireland with the overall picture of client concentration in those areas with highest deprivation scores;
• those on means tested benefits made up more than half of respondents;
• while the unemployed made up a quarter of those on the CAB database, the unemployment rate in Northern Ireland is less than 5% (January 2008).
The research clearly shows that public funding has enabled the targeting of services to those communities most in need of debt advice and that the service is accessible to those who most require it. The report also acknowledged that the CAB data has the potential to clarify the structure and profile of debt in Northern Ireland and therefore contribute to the formulation of effective policies by the Northern Ireland Assembly on the issue of debt. Given the current economic conditions this is of major importance.
Speaking at the event, Rosemary McCormick from L’Derry CAB and one of the DETI funded money advice workers spoke about the human cost of being in debt. Rosemary said, “Debt doesn’t sleep and generally neither does the person facing the effects of it. The effect of debt on everyday living cannot be over-estimated. It affects work-life balance, marriages, family life, mental health and the overall ability to think clearly and logically. The Dealing with Debt Service allows clients to avail of straightforward advice which has a real, tangible effect on people’s lives. This service allows clients to seek advice from trained, understanding experts, where the advice is free but the peace of mind is priceless.”
The Dealing with Debt Service which is funded by the DETI handled an average of £1.15 million of new debt per month with an average of 165 new clients per month seeking help from the service in 2007-2008. A comparison of the figures from the service for the period from April to September 2007 and April to September 2008 shows that the number of clients accessing the service has increased by almost 40% and the amount of debt dealt with has increased by 120%.
Photo Caption: (from left to right) Rosemary McCormick, Money Adviser, L’Derry CAB, Claire Greene, Money Adviser, Belfast CAB, Sam Walker, Money Adviser, Craigavon District CAB, Kevin Lawrenson, Fermanagh CAB, Scott Kennerley, Money Advice Project Manager, Arlene Foster, MLA, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Jenni Archer, Money Adviser, Causeway CAB, Derek Alcorn, Chief Executive, Citizens Advice, John Devine, Chair, Citizens Advice, Gerard Quinn, Money Adviser, Newry CAB, Jennifer Fulton, Director of Development, Citizens Advice
Photo Caption: Scott Kennerley, Money Advice Project Manager and John Hinds, Head of Consumer Affairs, DETI