Introduction
The Citizens Advice Service has a history of providing independent, trusted, accessible and free advice on a wide range of topics, including money advice and debt counselling. The majority of our clients are the low and middle income consumers, whose financial advice needs are currently largely unmet in the commercial sector. Our aim is to help ensure that these consumers can get the advice and information they need to make the best financial decisions for them and their families, whether this advice and information is provided through the Citizens Advice Service or elsewhere.

Combating debt problems by early identification and helping to prevent a crisis

Debt Clients-Employment Status %   Full Employment 30.6 Long Term Sick 22.2 Unemployed 18.1 P/T Employment 13.9 Retired 8.3 Others 4.2 Self Employed 1.4 Student 1.4

Debt Clients- Housing Status %   R. Social landlord 44.4 Homeowner 20.8 Private Tenany 20.8 With Relatives 8.3 Others 5.6

 Debt is both the cause and effect of money worries and can be shown to have an adverse effect on a person’s health and well-being. There is evidence of increasing indebtedness across the Maldon District. Maldon Bureau is now dealing with 100 clients owing money to 572 creditors amounting to close on  £2M.   New cases are arriving every day.  8 clients have been helped to apply for bankruptcy in the last 3 months owing £184k
A review of the reasons for debt amongst people coming to the Bureau shows that for the most part clients only seek help when things reach a crisis.
Perhaps paradoxically our clients are in contact with a wide range of agencies who do not appear to offer debt advice nor refer people for such help.
It is by no means clear to us that there is even basic training given to field workers on preparing budgets, managing financial commitment or dealing with debt.
We see a need for making links between agencies working with clients, particularly health care workers, to encourage early identification of debt, preventative work and referral protocols.

Vulnerable Groups
We have identified four groups of people particularly at risk, when awareness sessions might well have prevented the stress and anxiety that comes with managing money without very basic knowledge. These are:

• Young people going to University or starting work away from ‘home’;
• Lone parents living on reduced income and having had little experience  of  “breadline budgeting”;
• People with underlying mental health or learning difficulties;  and
• Senior Citizens left on their own on the death of a partner who has traditionally managed the financial affairs.

Proposal
Discussions with clients in these groups suggest that providing educational opportunities to promote understanding, knowledge and confidence in relation to money issues would pay many dividends.   At present there is no evidence that these opportunities are available in the District.
The aim of the project would be to provide a basic understanding of debt advice for staff working with these groups.   It would be accomplished through multi discipline workshops / working groups and talks to groups of staff in the field.   The expectation would be that the project would help map the need and develop a referral protocol so that advice/support is provided before the crisis is reached.
This service would fill a ‘gap’ in provision.
If you or your organisation are interested, please contact Barry on 01621 857851.