Communities Minister Gordon Lyons MLA during a visit to a County Antrim foodbank
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons MLA has announced £1.3m for an Integrated Advice Partnership Fund to be administered by local councils.
The Minister made the announcement in an Oral Statement in the Assembly. The fund will boost existing debt services by providing alternative pathways to debt advice for people across Northern Ireland.
Councils will use the funding to commission collaborative projects between local organisations and advice providers to make debt advice more readily available in areas where people need it most.
Welcoming the fund, Minister Lyons said:
"The Integrated Advice Partnership Fund will promote a community-focused approach to debt advice provision. We know that, despite the pressing need for debt advice, there remains a significant gap between those who could benefit from it and those actively seeking and taking up that support."
The Minister continued:
“In developing this Fund, we engaged with groups such as Christians Against Poverty and Trussell Trust, who are working with those impacted by disadvantage. It is these groups and others working in their local communities who will be involved in these local partnership models to leverage their expertise and broaden our reach.
“By enabling organisations to work together, we can draw on their combined expertise and resources, making it possible to deliver tailored advice that is responsive to the complex needs of our citizens.”
Concluding, Minister Lyons said:
“This initiative will complement the existing NI Debt Advice Service provided by my department through our partner, Advice NI. Together, we have built a strong foundation of support for those facing financial hardship, and this new fund will complement that provision. This fund reflects my commitment to making support available to people in every corner of Northern Ireland. By working closely with local councils and community organisations, we can ensure that those facing financial difficulties will be able to access the support they need, when they need it.”
To access the Advice NI Debt & Money Service, individuals can call the Freephone helpline on 0800 9154 604 from 9:00am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday.
In addition to the helpline, Advice NI offers various online resources at www.adviceni.net/debt, such as the budget planner, energy comparison tool etc which are free to access online.