Our high performing team of debt, benefits, budgeting and employability advisers have just won another endorsement for the vital work they do.
The ‘Advice in County Durham’ (AiCD) initiative has accepted Cestria as a new member of its county-wide signposting service, and given us the ‘four tick’ status of an ‘approved centre’ to obtain advice.
This is an important achievement for Cestria, to recognise the quality of the service we provide – and also help to ensure all those approaching AiCD for help can get to hear about what we can offer.
Cestria is the first housing association in County Durham to join AiCD.
Advice in County Durham has created a website which acts as a central point of contact for advice agencies across the county, so whatever kind of problem you’re facing – whether financial, employment-related, mental health or housing-related, you can find the right people to help.
Being part of AiCD means Cestria is now part of a network which offers:
- Access to a wide range of free impartial and confidential advice services at over 100 locations across County Durham
- Removing the guesswork from choosing which advice provider is right for you
- Making secure referrals to one of the AiCD approved centres, to ensure the right help and support is available quickly and easily
Since April last year, Cestria has generated an incredible £254,000 of additional income for over 150 of its residents, through advice staff offering benefits and entitlement checks, and supporting residents to make accurate claims.
Financial inclusion manager Suzanne Jobson and her team of four advisers are determined to ensure even more Cestria tenants can benefit from their service – or else be referred to a different provider as swiftly and seamlessly as possible.
Between the five staff members, the team can offer advice on finances, budgeting, benefits, debt and employability.
Cestria will be taking part in the Advice Week being run by Advice in County Durham later this month, starting on Monday 15th February.
Suzanne said: “We are very proud of the service we provide, and at a time when there are so many changes being made to the benefits system, with incomes shrinking, it’s never been more vital.
“We’re pleased to be recognised by AiCD, and we’re confident this will spread the word about our service to an even wider audience.”