16 January 2006
VOLUNTARY ADVICE SERVICES GET £500,000 CASH BOOST
Social Development Minister David Hanson MP today announced a major boost for voluntary sector advice services.
The funding, from the Department for Social Development's (DSD) Community Support Programme, will go directly to local advice centres to make it easier and faster for local people to get help when they need it. It will also be used for the development of advice networks, longer opening hours and better use of technology.
This announcement coincides with the launch of a new government consultation document called "A Strategy for Supporting Delivery of Voluntary Advice Services to the Community." During a visit to the Lower North Belfast Community Council Advice Centre in York Road, Belfast, the Minister said: "This funding, through the Department's Community Support Programme, will be delivered via district councils. I have asked each council to match this contribution from rateable income. Together with money already committed by DSD and the councils, this could bring the total government Government contribution to advice services to around £3 million per year.
"The provision of free, independent advice and information is an essential element of any society, but it is vital this important service is delivered in a way that best meets the needs of its users. That is why I am launching a public consultation on a new strategy to support the delivery of voluntary advice services.
"The Strategy will provide considerable challenges for the voluntary advice sector in reducing duplication across their services and fostering a spirit of co-operation amongst providers. I look forward to hearing their views during the consultation period and in working with the Advice Services Alliance as we seek to take this strategy forward.
"We want to transform the way local advice services are delivered, we want to support them in a better way and, most importantly, we want to make a real difference to the lives of people who are most in need of these services. The strategy aims to help organisations to improve the level of service they provide by committing longer term funding to the proposed new structures."
Copies of the Strategy are available from the:
Voluntary and Community Unit
3rd Floor
Lighthouse Building
1 Cromac Place
Gasworks Business Park
Ormeau Road
Belfast
BT7 2JB
Tel. 028 9082 9428
Fax. 028 9082 9431
email: vcu@dsdni.gov.ukIt can also be accessed on the Department's website: www.dsdni.gov.uk. The consultation period will run from 16 January 2006 to 7 April 2006.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
1. The Department for Social Development's Community Support Programme is the main mechanism for supporting local advice provision. This is a joint initiative with the district council network and supports a range of local services including advice provision. The total annual value of the programme is approximately £16 million with £3.5 million of this from DSD and the remainder from district councils through rate income.
2. The principal providers of local advice and information services are the Citizens Advice Bureaux network and other independent advice organisations, affiliated to Advice Northern Ireland. The Advice Services Alliance (ASA) is the overarching representative body for the voluntary advice sector and includes representatives from Citizens Advice, Advice NI and Law Centre NI. The independent chair of ASA is the Reverend Harold Good.
3. The Voluntary and Community Unit within DSD has been leading on the development of this long-term strategy for supporting delivery of voluntary advice services in Northern Ireland. A range of other stakeholders have been involved in this process including other government departments, district councils and the Advice Services Alliance.
4. For further information contact the DSD Information Office on 028 9082 9078.
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