£10m funding for Citizens Advice

Citizens Advice is to receive £10 million in extra funding to help extend its services, it has been announced.

The move, which was part of yesterday’s pre-Budget report from chancellor Alistair Darling, means the body will be able to help an extra 335,000 people in England and Wales every year.

Those seeking advice on becoming debt free from Citizens Advice are likely to benefit from the funding, as it means the body will be able to open three-quarters of its network of bureaux for an additional five hours a week to provide tips to those struggling with their finances.

Director of policy at Citizens Advice Teresa Perchard noted that the current economic climate has made access to services such as debt advice “vital”.

“We have … seen significant increases in problems with fuel debt, bank and building society overdrafts, council tax arrears and water bill arrears,” she explained.

One group which may also benefit from the funding is pensioners seeking debt help, after research from Just Retirement found that almost a quarter of those reaching retirement age are in debt.

By Tom Musk