Older Persons Project
As a consequence of the poor economic climate and spiraling living costs, South Derbyshire Citizens Advice Bureau has seen a significant increase in the number of older people seeking debt advice in the past year. A report by the Rowntree Trust has recently highlighted that about one third of older people are not claiming their full welfare benefit entitlement.
In order to address this worrying statistic, South Derbyshire Citizens Advice Bureau has recently secured funding from The Nationwide Foundation Trust to develop a specialist welfare benefit, debt and fuel efficiency project. This project has been funded for a 12 month period and will aim to work specifically with people living within South Derbyshire who are over 60 years of age.
David Symcox, Chief Executive has stated "We know that many older people are living in cold homes. This can be because they are not putting on heating as they are worried that they will not be able to pay their fuel bills or because their houses are so poorly insulated. We want to stop this terrible situation from happening this year and want to give people the information they need to keep them warm and healthy"
South Derbyshire Citizens Advice Bureau has experts who are able to carry our full welfare benefit assessments, negotiate with creditors to support people to deal with their debt issues, and provide tips and information of how to become more fuel efficient.
Anyone requiring further details about this new service should contact the South Derbyshire Citizens Advice Bureau.