ADVICE SERVICES UNITE TO HELP NORTHERN IRELAND'S MOST VULNERABLE ‘BEAT THE RECESSION’

The ‘Beat the Recession’ project, announced earlier in the year, will formally launch today throughout Northern Ireland and is a debt advice initiative run by the Advice Services Alliance set up to help those most affected by the recession. The three organisations involved(Citizens Advice, Advice NI and the Law Centre) are targeting people affected by the recession who may not be aware that help is available. They aim to do this by providing debt and money advice to the public in a variety of non-traditional venues and by using a number of web-based technologies. 

• Citizens Advice will provide debt advice via a number of ‘Roadshows’ in venues such as Tesco, Libraries NI, sporting venues and health centres, in conjunction with an innovative web-based service offering advice by webchat, Skype and text message at www.beattherecession.me 
• Advice NI will offer free legal representation for people facing repossession in court.  Other services offered include help for people facing redundancy or cuts in working hours, targeted support for people in areas that have been most affected by the recession, and working with community champions to make people more aware of the support that’s available. 
• Law Centre NI will provide a link through to specialist legal advice on employment law for those facing redundancy or reduced working hours.

Barry McVeigh, Citizens Advice, said:

“We are going to offer advice in non-traditional settings across Northern Ireland to support people affected by the recession who don’t use our services or are not aware of the support we offer. There are people out there who believe that nothing can be done to help them, but we will help them to realise that there is support available. We are also offering out of hours web chat, Skype and text message service by trained advisers.”

Kevin Higgins, Advice NI, said:

“The Advice Services Alliance consortium harnesses the strengths of the advice network across Northern Ireland. In the current economic crisis many in Northern Ireland are struggling to pay bills and make ends meet. This contract will enhance debt advice provision and make it easier for people in need and financial distress to access timely, accurate, quality assured money advice”.

Frank Hewitt, Big Lottery Fund’s Northern Ireland Chair, said:

“We are very aware of the tough times people are experiencing and the increased demand this is inevitably placing on advice services. The Big Lottery Fund has awarded this contract to Advice Services Alliance Northern Ireland (ASA) as they have expert knowledge of where need is greatest and experience of money advice in Northern Ireland. They will deliver a quality service quickly to ensure that the support reaches those most in need”