Debt help for more Wiltshire families (From Wiltshire Times)

Debt help for more Wiltshire families

11:20am Wednesday 27th June 2012 in News By Chris Melvin

A debt advice charity, run by volunteers, has struck a deal to work with six children’s centres in the west of Wiltshire.

The Hope Debt Advice Service has worked with families at children’s centres in Trowbridge and Bradford on Avon for a while.

Now the partnership with 4Children has become official, as the charity also offers its services in Melksham, at Canberra Children’s Centre and King’s Park Children’s Centre.

New volunteers have come forward and have become qualified to provide financial advice and assist families in coping with debt problems, offering free, confidential and impartial advice.

They can give support with budgeting, to ensure families are able to remain debt-free.

Roz Lambert, 4Children’s west Wiltshire cluster manager, said: “Running these services has made an incredible difference in the lives of parents and children, enabling them to live without debt.

“The Children’s Centre is able to signpost families back into education and employment in a way that fits in with their responsibilities as parents.

“Most families have struggled with their finances at some stage and, for many, these worries can turn into real stresses, unless things are brought under control.

“It is so important that families seek the help that they need in a supportive environment. It has been really encouraging to see how our centres can provide the space for parents to access such valuable services.”

Hope Debt Advice Service can be contacted free on 0800 840 2298.