Citizens Advice Sutton has been awarded additional funding to meet demand for debt advice. Citizens Advice Sutton is part of the London-wide Capitalise debt advice consortium and has been awarded additional funding from the Money Advice Service to help meet the high levels of debt advice that are almost inevitable in the first few months of the year. The additional funding will increase the debt team’s staffing by nearly 50%.
The CAS debt team is expecting more than 100 local people to seek specialist advice on debt matters this January. This would be an increase on January 2016 when the charity handled 87 debt cases. Figures from the Bank of England, released in November, suggest that the demand for debt advice is increasing. The Bank’s data showed that credit card lending is at a record level and overall unsecured debt – which includes overdrafts – is rising at its fastest pace for 11 years.
You can access the Citizens Advice Sutton debt advice team by telephone on 0203 463 1913. People can also access the debt team online by visiting www.suttonalps.org.uk/
Over the last year, Citizens Advice Sutton, provided debt advice to more than 964 people. Of those people, 29% had rent arrears, 25% had council tax arrears and 15% had other ‘priority’ debts such as utilities.
Steve Triner, the CEO of Citizens Advice Sutton is delighted that the additional funding will help ease the pressure on local people struggling with debt. Steve said “we know that debt worries impact on people’s physical and mental health. We know that many people are unable to see a way out and become depressed and stressed. However, Citizens Advice Sutton provides a completely free, independent, confidential debt advice service that provides the full range of debt advice solutions including Debt Relief Orders. The additional funding significantly increases our capacity for advice which will have a real impact on local people who may be struggling.”
People needing advice on other issues can contact Advice link Partnership Sutton (ALPS) Citizens Advice Sutton works with Sutton Carers and Age UK Sutton to provide the full range of information and advice. You can telephone ALPS on 020 8254 2616 from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm Monday to Friday or visit www.suttonalps.org.uk
