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Thousands get debt advice
THE chief executive of a telephone advice service is urging Northumbrians struggling with legal or financial problems to pick up the phone and join the thousands of people who have already turned their lives around after contacting the county’s dedicated advice line.
The Northumberland Single Telephone Advice Line, which is operated by DAWN Advice, has dealt with nearly 3,480 inquiries from people living across the county who are worried about money or legal matters in its first year alone.
Calls received by the service included 956 regarding benefits advice, 549 involving debt, 431 relating to housing problems and 427 about employment matters amongst a number of other social welfare issues.
Liz Chadwick, chief executive of DAWN Advice, said she expects the number of inquiries which the advice line receives to carry on rising as Northumberland continues to feel the pressures caused by public sector cuts and the announced closure of Lynemouth’s Rio Tinto Alcan factory.
She said: “The Northumberland Single Telephone Advice Line has already helped nearly 3,500 Northumbrians worried about legal matters to improve their situation, but as we prepare to start 2012 never before has the need been greater for people to be able to access quality legal and financial advice quickly.
“Our advisers are regularly contacted by individuals who have found themselves in difficult situations through no fault of their own - often it is as a result of a job loss or a relationship breakdown. Unfortunately there just doesn’t seem to be an end in sight.
“Issues left unresolved will never disappear on their own and will often develop into much more complex problems so seeking advice at the earliest possible stage will prevent matters from becoming worse.
“The advice line is not only helping people to access support quickly, it is also helping to alleviate the growing pressures being felt by our county’s Citizens Advice Bureaux by reducing their waiting lists, allowing the CABs to focus on helping individuals who require in-depth face-to-face advice or practical help.”
The advice line was designed to bring together a series of legal services offered by Citizens Advice Bureaux and their partner organisations to ensure that residents receive the most appropriate support to help with their circumstances.
People living in rural areas or those reliant on public transport do not always have easy access to face-to-face services so the telephone advice line allows advisers to conduct an initial assessment of the client’s needs over the telephone so their local CAB can then arrange an appointment with a specialist caseworker.
Northumberland residents with legal or debt worries can ring 0844 4111309 for free, confidential and impartial advice.
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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