Crunch Times
Advice NI Champion the need for Advice Services in the economic turndown
The need for advice services has never been greater, according to statistics released at the Advice NI Annual General Meeting.
Demand for debt and money advice has seen a 6% increase over the year, and advisers have also been heavily involved in maximising people’s income particularly those reliant on state benefits and those in low paid work.
According to Bob Stronge, Director of Advice NI:
“There is no doubt that the economic downturn and increasing cost of living has hit people hard and this is reflected in the workload of independent advice centres. Our members have dealt with over 200,000 in the past year, with a significant increase in the level of money and debt enquiries.”
The theme of the Advice NI event was Crunch Time at the Frontline and focussed on the pressures facing advice centres as they struggle to provide lifeline services for people who find themselves in difficulty. Those in attendance heard Eleanor Gill, Chief Executive of the Consumer Council talk about the impact of price hikes on consumers; and Maeve Walls, Director of the Department for Social Development’s Voluntary & Community Unit speak about developments impacting on the future of advice services.
Steve Johnson, Chief Executive of Advice UK, gave a presentation on Advice UK's RADICAL Advice Project which looks a a bottom-up approach to improving advice services.
One of the most striking aspects of the event was a presentation by frontline advisers on the pressures they face as they struggle to maintain their advice services.
Mary McManus from East Belfast Independent Advice Centre stated:
“You can read about levels of deprivation and have an academic understanding of poverty and its impact. However working on the frontline in a community based advice centre you see and hear first hand the issues facing people as in many cases we are their first port of call in a time of need.”
Key information presented at the event included:
- Over 200,000 enquiries dealt with in 2007/8 year;
- Assisted in Benefit Uptake work which generated total additional benefits of over £8million;
- All members provide a quality service, adhering to the Advice NI membership scheme;
- Services provided by vastly experienced staff, with 87% of staff in post for 2 years or more;
- 199 learners participated on money advice training;
