Annual review [ 1.4 MB] - Citizens Advice

Once again it has been a busy year for the Money Advice team at Copeland CABwith over 5900 debt issues handled – an increase of 26% on 2009/10 figures.Issues we are dealing with include unsecured and personal loan debts, credit andcatalogue and mail order debts.J Chapman, Cumbria County Council ProjectThe 2010/11 financial year showed to be a hugely popular and successful year forCumbria County Council project. Demand has continued to increase year on yearfor the service. With no eligibility test or financial restrictions that clients have tomeet, it enables client’s access to specialist help regardless of their current incomeor asset levels.The importance of continual funding from Cumbria County Council is essential inorder for clients to have access to free, independent, confidential and impartialspecialist advice.N Edgar, Integrated Debt Advice ProjectWork under the Integrated Debt Advice (IDA) project commenced in April 2010.The project is funded by the Northern Rock Foundation which is an independentcharity whose key aim is to tackle disadvantage and improve quality of life in theNorth East and Cumbria.Since its implementation the project has successfully assisted a varied crosssection of clients, from those on welfare benefits to high paid earners andfeedback from those clients has been extremely positive.In addition to providing a traditional face to face advice service, the project alsooffers clients specialist money advice over the phone, through its DAWNtelephone advice team based in Newcastle. This alternative option is particularlybeneficial for those who find attending the bureau difficult, for example, due towork constraints or transportation issues.In the first year the project managed to exceed its target whilst collaborativeworking with other project funders such as LSC and FIF allowed the bureau toJ Chapman, Legal Service Commission ProjectLSC funding has allowed low income clients access to free specialist debt advicein key arrears such as possession proceedings and insolvency. This has enabledclients to avoid losing their home via repossession and reduce the stress andstrain of their financial circumstances. With the continued rise of personalinsolvency and possession proceedings demand for this service remains high.In October 2010 Copeland CAB successfully bid for the LSC contract (inclusive ofdebt, welfare benefits and housing contracts) in the Copeland area via thetendering process. This has enabled clients to continue to receive much neededfree debt advice in the area.The Nationwide FoundationWe have received funding from The Nationwide Foundation to help olderpeople living in Copeland to maximise their income and deal with debt andhousing issues.£993,00the total figure of priority debt dealt with in Copeland£7.2m0during 2010/11the amount of non-priority debt that the moneyadvice team has dealt with in 2010/11