Helping hand offered to Lincoln people with New Year money worries

‘If you need advice this New Year a helping hand is always near’ – that’s the message of the third month of a campaign aimed at highlighting where people in Lincoln can get money, budgeting and debt advice.

The ‘Sometimes we all need a helping hand’ project is being run by partners as part of the Lincoln Anti-Poverty Strategy.

It has been put together to show where help is available and has run throughout Christmas and into the New Year – a time when already-stretched household budgets can have more pressure put on them.

This month’s message – the final one of the campaign – encourages anyone wanting debt or budgeting advice to contact Christians Against Poverty or City of Lincoln Council Welfare Advice Team.

Posters advertising the help on offer will be displayed across the city. Image: City of Lincoln Council

Posters will be on display throughout the city and leaflets will be handed out at various locations, including food banks, to encourage people to access help if they need it.

Joanne Crookes, Customer Services Manager at the City of Lincoln Council, said: “Our welfare advice service is a team of experienced advisors who give comprehensive and confidential advice on all social security benefits, tax credits, grants, loans and discretionary payments.

“We can help you to get the correct form and, where necessary, guide you through completing it.

“Our welfare advice surgeries are held throughout the city, making it more accessible to people who need our support.

“We also offer a money advice service that can help people manage their financial affairs, advise on ways someone could increase their income, provide tips on how to reduce on expenditure and assist with contacting people or organisations someone may owe money to in order to negotiate rates of repayment on their behalf.

“While it can be difficult and uncomfortable to talk about money, our services are always delivered confidentially and sensitively.

“For further information please email [email protected] or call 01522 873382 and one of our trained staff will be able to help.”

Simon Hoare, from Christians Against Poverty, added: “The New Year can often be a financially difficult time for many, with the cost of Christmas being felt and a long wait until the next pay day.

“Debt statements hitting the doormat can land quite heavily. It is also a time when people are thinking about what they want to achieve in the year ahead – a common theme being to get back in control of your finances.

“At no cost at all, one of our team can meet with you confidentially, help you to work out a budget you can actually live on and create out a plan to become debt free.”

‘Robbie’ has benefitted from the support provided by Christians Against Poverty.

He said: “The best thing I did this year was to call CAP. With speed and efficiency my life has turned around and I can now face the future with clarity and confidence underpinned and supported by CAP.”

Councillor Rosanne Kirk, Portfolio Holder for Social Inclusion and Community Cohesion, said: “I’d strongly encourage anyone who wants debt or budgeting advice to contact either Christians Against Poverty or the city council.

“The new year is the perfect time to have a new start and there is help and support available for people so they don’t have to tackle these issues on their own.”

Anyone wanting to contact Christians Against Poverty can call them on 0800 328 0006 and the Welfare Advice Team at the city council can be contacted on 01522 873382.

Other organisations that can help with budgeting advice include:

• Citizens Advice Bureau – 03444 111 444
  Lincolnshire Credit Union – 01522 873550
  City of Lincoln Council – 01522 873382

Helping Hands campaign materials can be downloaded here.