Advice on everything from debt and personal finances to living arrangements and welfare benefit changes will be available to people in County Durham during a week of drop in sessions dedicated to improving access to relevant advice services.
Advice in County Durham, which brings together statutory bodies and community and voluntary sector organisations to better co-ordinate access to advice services, has organised five days of events from Monday 15 February to Friday 19 February at which more than 60 of its 65 member agencies will be on hand to provide advice and support to members of the public across the county.
Durham County Council’s welfare rights team will be giving advice at foodbanks, at seven sessions throughout the week.
Some of the other agencies taking part in Advice Week will be Citizens Advice County Durham, Age UK, Durham Community Action and Durham Christian Partnership, together with the council’s housing, customer services and revenues and benefits teams.
Durham Money Advice Centre will be running a session on Wednesday, 17 February from 1pm to 3pm at 3 Fram Well House, Framwellgate Peth, Durham.
On Thursday, 18 February, Durham County Council’s welfare rights team will be providing advice at Ferryhill foodbank in St Luke’s Church Hall, Church Lane from 10.30am to 12pm.
Citizens Advice County Durham will be running sessions at four of its branches on Friday, 19 February between 10am and 1pm.
The branches are Chester-le-Street, which is at 15 Church Chare, Consett, which is at 77 Medomsley Road, Newton Aycliffe, 2 Pease Way, and Peterlee, 17-19 Upper Chare.
Cllr Jane Brown, Durham County Council’s cabinet member for corporate services, said: “This programme of events provides a focus on these incredibly important and highly valued advice services and shows how the various agencies can come together to raise awareness of the numerous advice sessions which are run for people in County Durham every week.
“We welcome all members of the public to drop in to any of the events to seek advice and find out about the range of issues our members can help them with.”