£52,000 to help CAB with increase in residents with debt troubles (From Clacton and Frinton Gazette)

£52,000 to help CAB with increase in residents with debt troubles

1:46pm Tuesday 18th September 2012 in News By James Dwan

TENDRING’s Citizens’ Advice Bureau will be handed £52,000 to help it cope with an expected rise in demand from residents struggling with debt next year.

The cash has come from Tendring Council’s Big Society Fund and will be paid out over two years.

It will be used to tackle the expected increase in requests for help when the Government’s welfare reforms kick in from April.

A new money advice surgery will also be set up with the cash and a finance tutor will be appointed to train the bureau’s 15 volunteer advisers.

Alex Stanmore, chairman of CAB Tendring, said almost 90 per cent of the Government’s welfare benefits cuts being implemented after April.

“It is vital that our advisors are ready to help local residents find ways to cut expenditure and manage their budgets,” he said.

“The £52,000 will fund a new project which will enable us to up-skill our CAB volunteer advisors and supervisors to improve client’s financial literacy.

“At the end of the two years we will be in a position to absorb the project into our core service and make it sustainable.”

Peter Halliday, the council’s cabinet member for finance, said the bureau is facing a significant rise in the number of people needing help in the district.

“Their new project will help to reduce poverty by maximising income, managing debt and provide clients with the financial skills to live within their means,” he said.

“What the CAB is doing also helps prevent escalating costs in terms of Council resources in dealing with additional claims and we applaud the CAB in their ability to see that - and structure a bid to demonstrate that saving,” he added.