Working together for the future of advice provision in Middlesbrough

About

In September 2013, a new partnership project was launched, which sees Middlesbrough Citizens Advice Bureau, Age UK Teesside, Thirteen Group (Tandem) & Cleveland Housing Advice Centre, joining forces to deliver a 2 year Big Lottery Funded venture.

The new project plans to increase advice provision capacity in Middlesbrough and also to work alongside current providers. We deliver a full and varied range of Financial Education sessions to local community groups.

The MAP project currently sees advice provision taken back into the heart of local community, at two venues, Grove Hill and Thorntree Community Hubs. The new website enhances the ability of the MAP team to provide advice to the people of Middlesbrough.

We work with closely with Middlesbrough Council and also provide advice from their network of Community Hubs in and around the Middlesbrough area.

As the project hits its 18th operational month, we have provided face to face advice to nearly 2500 people on a wide range of welfare benefit related matters and helped to secure an estimated £3.1 million in benefit awards. We have advised and negotiated on £1.3 million of debt related matters. Our financial educational team has helped clients save an estimated £600,000 in energy bills, personal and household budgeting and general money saving tips.

Moving into the final phase of the project we hope to obtain funding to continue the service from August 2015 onwards.

Our partners

Tandem

Thirteen’s Tandem Advice team offer free and confidential advice appointments in local neighbourhood offices or in your home. Our advisers can help:

• Ensure that you are receiving all of the benefits you are entitled to and help complete forms
• Provide advice on budgeting, saving and ways to make your money go further
• Provide advice on fuel switching
• Compare loans and advise how to access affordable credit
• To access specialist help and advice

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Middlesbrough Citizens Advice Bureau

Middlesbrough Citizens Advice Bureau is an independent charity and a member of the national network of Citizens Advice Bureaux. We aim to provide the advice people need for the problems they face, and campaign to improve the policies and practices that affect people’s lives.  We provide free, confidential advice and information on a range of issues and can help with many problems including debt, housing, consumer matters, benefits, work, relationships and many other issues.

You can contact Middlesbrough Citizens Advice Bureau Adviceline if you would like to speak to one of our advisors direct on 0344 499 4110.

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Age UK Teesside

Age UK Teesside is the new name for Age Concern Teesside. Our purpose is to promote the health and wellbeing of older people in the local community.We provide free advice and information for people aged 50+ on a range of issues.

We provide Information and Advice on a range of topics including (but not limited to) Money and Benefits, Social Care, Housing Options and Local Services and Support.

We also assist people in completing welfare benefit claim forms and give advice and information on welfare reform.

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Cleveland Housing & Advice Centre (CIO)

Cleveland Housing Advice Centre provides an independent, free, confidential and impartial advice service to everyone.

CHAC Service is provided for the Community, by a team of highly trained advisors and volunteers from the community with aims to ensure that individuals do not suffer through lack of knowledge of their rights and responsibilities or of the services available to them, or through an inability to express their needs effectively.

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