Downloads a Huge Success

The availability of self-help packs and other materials for download is fast becoming an increasingly important element of advice and information provision for Citizen Advice in Northern Ireland. As access to the internet has become easier, more user friendly and affordable, more and more people are now using the medium to address their immediate advice needs, at least in the first instance.

This trend has been clearly demonstrated this year by the rapid growth in the number of materials currently being accessed and downloaded from the various Citizens Advice websites. In the four months April to July 2009 this site experienced nearly 50,000 downloads, including 18,500 downloads of Employment Fact Sheets and 1,300 specialised debt self-help packs. For a full list of available publications please go to the Publications section.

At a time when costs within the advice sector are under extreme pressure, the availability of effective web-based and web-accessible materials is a very cost effective mechanism for the dissemination of self help and other informational materials.