Borough is seeing a sharp increase in numbers of people needing financial help
A new advice service is being proposed for Ealing to help an increasing number of people with financial difficulties.
Organisations are being invited to bid to run a Citizen’s Advice style operation (Ealing doesn't have a CAB) which will offer broadly the same type of help and advice as Law for All which went into administration last summer.
The Council has agreed to invest £200,000 in the new service which will initially be set up under a one year contract, with the option to extend for a further year if necessary.
At the same time, a review of both council and voluntary sector advice services will take place with the aim of streamlining and co-ordinating the provision of advice.
Councillor Ranjit Dheer, cabinet member for Community Services and Safety, said: ''There has been a sharp increase in the demand for advice services in the last year, particularly from local people experiencing financial difficulties or struggling to cope with changes to the benefits system.
“The collapse of Law for All left a significant gap in the help that could be offered to local people and I am very pleased that we have been able to invest in this much needed interim service. At the same time, we will be carrying out a review of all the other advice services and make sure that we put a long-term plan in place that best meets the requirements of our residents.”
The decision was made by the council’s Cabinet on Tuesday, 10 January 2012. All Cabinet decisions are subject to call-in for a period of five working days from the date of publication of the minutes of the meeting.
18th January 2012