Support services extended to help with anxiety and debt in pandemic

Local advice services have now been extended to meet the increasing demand for information and advice through the Covid-19 Financial Inclusion Partnership Fund.

Council’s advice service partners at Advice North West, Dove House and the Resource Centre have all stepped up to deliver a specially tailored programme of support through the Financial Inclusion Project, supported by the Department for Communities, to meet the immediate financial and debt needs of local people who are juggling finances to keep families afloat.

The services are now also available out of hours to meet additional demand during evenings and weekends.

Mayor Tierney said: “There are a lot of people across the City and District who have been furloughed, lost their jobs or been forced to shut down their businesses due to Covid-19. For some it’s the first time they’ve found themselves under extreme financial pressure, possibly in debt and having to navigate an increasingly complex benefit system to ask for help. It can be extremely daunting for many people, and with the extra pressures of trying to support a family and keep up with bill payments it can lead to unnecessary stress and anxiety during these already challenging times.

“But I want to reassure people that support is there – advice services are just at the end of the phone and they can help anyone experiencing an unexpected change in circumstances due to redundancy, sickness, reduction of income or insecure income. Council is also committed to ensuring that people are aware of their employment rights at this time, and advice providers can assist anyone who feels they have been unfairly treated or are just unsure about their rights and entitlements. Don’t be reluctant to ask for help – there could be a simple solution to your problem with the right advice.”

The Partnership is one of a number of interventions being delivered by the Council and its community partners to address poverty and the wider impacts of Covid-19. Services offered include benefit maximisation, debt advice, financial health checks, advice on setting up a bank account, budgeting, savings and affordable credit.”

The extended service will run from Monday to Thursday from 5pm to 9pm and on Saturdays from 9am to 1pm. Contact Advice North West Tel: 03003033650 or email: [email protected]; Dove House Tel: 02871269327 or email [email protected]; The Resource Centre Derry Tel: 02871226550 or email [email protected].