Partner Article

Northern Rock to fund debt advice service

THE charitable arm of Northern Rock will reportedly pay for a new service in which personal debt counsellors help those who suffered during the recession.

According to reports, the Northern Rock Foundation will offer a £1.5m grant to the citizens advice bureaux (CAB) in the North East and Cumbria will help 8,000 people over two years.

The cash follows CAB reports of a big increase in appeals for help from people struggling with mounting debts.

The grant will fund 12 counsellors who will offer face-to-face advice.

Northern Rock Foundation chief executive, Penny Wilkinson, said: “January is a particularly difficult time of year for people with debt problems and in the current financial climate we know that there will be a lot of families in the North East and Cumbria struggling to make ends meet.

“Our new programme will enable people to get help and advice quickly, giving a practical response to the rising debt problem in our region.”

Allyson Whisker, Citizens Advice Bureaux partnership development manager said: “The recession has had a big impact in the North East and Cumbria and we have seen a sharp increase in the demand for advice on debt and other related issues.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .