Tag: AdviceUK

Funding secured to help parents seek work and maximise income

Single parents and families with young children living in Leith and north Edinburgh can continue to access a free service providing employability and income maximisation advice.

This comes after the Scottish Government announced an extension of its Accessible Advice Fund to existing providers, including Harbour Homes. This will total just over £98k of funding from 2023 until March 2026. Grants are being distributed by AdviceUK on behalf of the Scottish Government.

The service is provided by Harbour Homes’ Placemakingteam who have been working alongside local community organisations to support parents.

One partner organisation is Leith-based Kin Collective, a social enterprise working to support physical, mental and emotional wellbeing in pregnancy and early parenthood.

Kathryn Lawrence, Director of Kin Collective said: “We have been so grateful to have received support from Jane Whiting and Harbour Homes for our parent community.

“Jane has been a frequent guest at our weekly perinatal group to chat to parents and provide information about the tailored 1:1 support available.

“This has been particularly relevant to families who are facing a range of challenges including reduced income due to maternity and parental leave, parents seeking new employment, the issue of high childcare costs, a lack of provision, and in some cases support with existing employment and flexibility to work around family life.”

Kathryn added: “We have received excellent feedback from parents that have worked with Jane on an individual basis, in particular that her input has been instrumental in helping to secure new roles and employment.

“To date Jane has worked with 16 parents so far and we are delighted to have been able to work with Jane and Harbour Homes on this project and receive such invaluable support.”

John Murray, Placemaking Manager at Harbour Homes said: “This funding extension is a testament to the positive impact this service has already had on the lives of the people receiving advice.

“We’re thrilled to be able to continue this important work.”

Parents in Leith and north Edinburgh interested in learning more about this service should contact jane.whiting@harbour.scot.

Expansion of free debt advice service

More people will be able to benefit from free debt advice following investment from the Scottish Government. More than £2.4 million will be distributed among a number of advice organisations to expand their services and invest in more effective methods to help individuals with problem debt.

The investment will assist projects offering face to face advice using video calls and projects aimed at moving debt solution processes online. This investment will also help the debt advice sector to manage the expected increase in demand as a result of the economic impacts of coronavirus (COVID-19).

AdviceUK will be one of the new recipients of funding and has 70 Scottish-based partners who will now be able to extend their services.

Minister for Communities Aileen Campbell said: “I am pleased that this funding will enable more people to access free debt advice, especially as we expect to see increased demand on these services due to the long term effects of COVID-19.

“Our Debt Advice Routemap sets out our vision for a user-friendly and collaborative free debt advice system in Scotland. Through this additional investment we aim to distribute funds across Scotland, focusing on those hardest to reach, including those who maybe have never sought advice before.

“Debt advice services are looking at innovative new approaches, using technology and new ways of working. I would encourage anyone who finds themselves struggling with problem debt to seek help at the earliest opportunity.”

AdviceUK Executive Director Chilli Reid said: “AdviceUK warmly welcomes this funding from the Scottish Government, which will make a huge difference to people struggling with money worries.

“Our members serve communities across Scotland, and this investment will support them in their vital work tackling child poverty, supporting households on low incomes, and helping those most exposed to the impacts of COVID-19.”

The funding is part of the Financial Services Levy for debt advice which has been increased by the UK Government in response to the expected growth in demand for free debt advice due to the long-term effects of COVID-19.

The funding was devolved to the Scottish Government in 2019 and the Debt Advice Routemap was launched to help improve access to services across Scotland.

Established in 1979, Advice UK is the largest network of independent advice providers in the UK.

Granton Information Centre has continued to provide an advice service throughout the coronavirus lockdown, supporting people with debt, housing and employment issues.

If you need help to deal with mounting debts, or are unclear about which benefits you may be entitled to, call Granton Information Centre on 0131 551 2459 or 0131 552 0458 or you can email info@gic.org.uk