Money Advice Service
You may well have seen the advertising campaign on STV and STV3 that has been running since Thursday 9th June. This new initiative, funded by the government was awarded to Citizens Advice Scotland and is being delivered by Money Advisers at Specialist Bureaux throughout Scotland.
In Glasgow this service is offered at Glasgow Central (lead agency), Drumchapel and Parkhead CABX. The service is free, independent and unbiased money advice covering a wide range of financial topics including:
· Budgeting and financial planning
· Savings and investments
· Borrowing
· Protecting and insuring the individual, family and possessions
· Retirement planning
· Understanding tax and welfare benefits
Advisers will help users to the point where they can:
· Choose between options
· Understand the consequences of doing nothing
· Develop personal financial strategies
· Help them take action to manage their financial affairs
Notes for referring organisations
It is envisaged that people needing assistance can refer themselves or can be referred through an advice giving agency, statutory body, employer etc. The service does not provide crisis debt advice but there may well be an interchange where debt has come about through bad money management or budgeting.
It is important that registered charitable advice agencies refer their clients through the Centralised number 0808 8000 118 and the agency may qualify for a £10(including VAT) referral fee if their client attends the appointment.
There is a web site at: www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk and a health check that can be accessed and used by individuals and agencies at: www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/healthcheck
Individuals, statutory bodies, employers (restructuring or facing a redundancy situation or want to help retiring employees etc) can refer people for advice and can either use the above number of call the Bureaux directly on:
GlasgowCentral CAB - 0141 559 6292
Drumchapel CAB – 0141 944 2612
Parkhead CAB – 0141 554 3834