New service across Teesdale offers advice in the home

Residents from across the dale are tens of thousands of pounds better off each month thanks to a new service which offers advice in the comfort of your own home.
Citizens Advice launched an outreach service for those living in the Barnard Castle and Evenwood wards, thanks to funding from Teesdale Area Action Partnership.
Home visits were introduced to allow people to gain access to free, confidential and impartial advice who would otherwise be unable to get to one of the bureaux.
This could be due to ill health, disabilities, caring commitments or lack of transport.
Since the service was rolled out in December last year, initial estimates show that the outreach service has achieved more than £20,000 worth of benefits, as well as other financial outcomes each month since January. This figure is based on benefits clients are eligible for being obtained for one year. It includes benefits the service has informed clients about or helped them to access. Outreach worker Barbara Stott (pictured) said: “Lots of the problems people come to Citizens Advice about relate to accessing benefits. We also have a specialist debt service. I think it is very positive as far as money is concerned. We can also give advice about any other problems they face including family advice, relationships and housing problems as well as filling in forms for people. We can also make appropriate referrals.” Individuals are referred to Ms Stott for a home visit via the Citizens Advice Adviceline telephone service.
Home appointments are available Mondays and Thursdays between 9am and 2.30pm. Ms Stott said: “We do our best to provide telephone and email support but sometimes there are still people who we are missing.
“There are some people who we just can’t reach so we are trying to reach out to the villages where we need to be. Some people in outlying villages can’t get to us so we can go and see them. It is vital that it is easy for people to access the service.”
Appointments can last between 50 minutes and two hours. Ms Stott sees two people a week but believes the service has more capacity. Ms Stott said: “I am very relaxed about meeting people and they can have every confidence about talking to me. It is a really rewarding job especially when you help people who have no idea what they are entitled to.”  For more information call the Adviceline on 03444 111444 or visit www.citizensadvice.org.uk. Barnard Castle’s bureau is also open Mondays and Wednesdays between 10am and 4pm.