Advice NI
The “Wiseadviser”, the brainchild of “Advice NI”, is a training programme for money advisers in voluntary and community organisations who are helping to ease Northern Ireland’s huge individual debt problems.
One in ten Northern Ireland households had accumulated arrears with payments on consumer credit agreements or household bills and on average debts ranged from £9,000 and above. Research conducted in 2003 highlighted a need for money management and advice training.
Between March 2005 and March 2006 they worked with 80 organisations that deal with some of the most socially excluded people to deliver high quality and sustainable advice services. In all 50 people were trained in Londonderry and Newry to identify emergency situations, prioritise debts, help clients to maximize their income and prepare a personal finance planning statement.
The learners were a diverse group from Advice NI membership, Citizens Advice Bureau, Credit Unions and the Civil Service. Of the 50 trained, 31 achieved accreditation from the Open College Network at level two, and 19 are awaiting accreditation.
In 2005-06 four full-time workers who had been trained, advised 1,000 clients who between them, had more than £4.6 million of debt.
For further details on Advice NI, please contact DEL Press Office on 028 9025 7872.