Durham County Council has committed more funding to a charity that provides vital advice to residents across County Durham.
The local authority is providing £500,000 to Citizens Advice County Durham for the 2024/25 financial year to continue supporting its work to help residents across a range of issues, including benefits, housing, debt and hate crime.
A further £100,000 has been pledged from the local authority’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund allocation to help residents affected by the ‘cost of living crisis’.
A similar project, delivered in 2023 by Age UK County Durham, Citizens Advice County Durham, Durham Christian Partnership and East Durham Trust, resulted in those supported being a total of £3.2m better off thanks to additional benefits and debt management solutions.
The funding is part of a raft of support the council provides to the voluntary and charity sector in recognition of the invaluable services it offers to residents.
Other recent grants include:
• £80,000 to Durham Christian Partnership to provide debt advice to residents.
• £83,600 to Age UK County Durham to support with activities linked to cost of living.
• £36,400 to East Durham Trust to provide financial wellbeing and debt advice.
Cllr Alan Shield, Durham County Council’s cabinet member for equality and inclusion (above, right), said: “Citizens Advice County Durham delivers an essential service, providing free, confidential and impartial advice and support on issues that matter most to residents.
“The ongoing cost of living crisis means this service is needed now more than ever, and it is a privilege to continue to support organisations that share our commitment to helping County Durham communities and residents through this difficult time.”
Edward Pickering, chief executive of Citizens Advice County Durham (above, left), said: “We continue to help the people of County Durham to address their issues, problems and concerns, despite the ongoing challenging economic environment for us all.
“We have been able to maintain local presence in all the main centres in the county but are also seeing more people contact us online.
“Our staff and volunteers are working as hard as they can to ensure that we can help as many people as possible in these challenging times.”
Supporting local charities and voluntary organisations is just one of the ways Durham County Council is helping families and individuals who are struggling financially.
From help with food and energy costs, to advice on claiming benefits and free activities for children – there is a full range of support on offer.
To find out more, visit durham.gov.uk/helpwithyourmoney and durham.gov.uk/helpforfamilies.