£billions up for grabs as financial woes pile on the pressure
The coalition, an alliance of six organisations including Citizens Advice, Law Centres Federation and Age Concern and funded by the Big Lottery Fund, is today launching Advice Week (6th to12th October) to highlight different ways people can access free and impartial advice on a range of issues including legal matters, debt, benefits, housing and employment.
While eight out of 10 people are more worried about their finances than this time last year, the coalition found that those who felt that they had the greatest need for advice, were those who had the lowest awareness that free advice was available. This was also the group on the lowest incomes, despite up to £9.9 billion in means tested benefits going unclaimed last year.
John Fitzpatrick, Chair of Law Centres Federation, said: “Law Centres are experts at helping people in a financial crisis with their housing problems, threatened repossession, managing debt, and ensuring they receive what they are entitled to. Law Centres across the country will be using Advice Week to let people know there is legal assistance available and that they can get free help.”
