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News Money heads list of concerns
FINANCIAL issues continue to dominate the list of problems for Maidstone residentswhoseek help from Citizens Advice Bureau. Advice on benefits and tax credits topped the list of enquiries in 2014/15, with 25% of clients needing help in this area, with a further 19% needing advice on debt. Employment (12%), housing
(11%) and relationships and family (9%) followed. The bureau dealt with 7,300 clients during the year, creating a total of 24,893 points of contact, of which al- most half (46%)were face to face ap- pointments and25%telephone calls. The bureau secured £300,681 for its clients and had a further £334,319
in debts written off. Almost all clients (95%) were
happy with the service they received and the main cause of criticism was longwaiting times for advice. Addressing the annual meeting, chairman Sir Michael Buckley said: “To some extent, they are the in- evitable consequence of the time re- quired to explore the problems of clients and to give them full advice. “I am proud that the bureau has
gone from strength to strength in the difficult financial climate of the past few years, but very conscious that the credit for this rests with the staff and management and my fellow trustees.” The bureau has 31 paid staff and
76 volunteers, but is always looking to recruit more. Chief executive Bonny Malhotra
said: “I never cease to be surprised by the level of commitment given by our volunteers in Maidstone. Col- leagues, both paid and unpaid, are this organisation’s powerhouse and events bear witness to the fact that even under extreme pressures we have continued to provide an excel- lent service.” He said the bureau had suffered
from austerity – cuts in local author- ity funding and funding for domes- tic abuse, along with support from the legal aid agency and other small funding streams – but a number of new opportunities had opened up.
Operating from its base in Bower
Terrace and at Maidstone Gateway, advisers now help those migrating from benefits to Universal Credit. It has also become the delivery centre for PensionWise in Kent and Med- way. Mr Malhotra said: “Often provid-
ing a bespoke service at both venues has been difficult to manage but vol- unteers rally to our cry of help and give us additional days above their duty days.” The bureau provides outreach services in Park Wood, Marden and Headcorn aswell ashomevisits and also provides an advice service in Maidstone Prison for inmates, their families and prison staff.
Credit union passes £2million loan milestone
LENDING by Kent Savers Credit Union, based in Maidstone, passed the £2million mark in September. Loans of nearly £74,000 were is-
sued in the month, from a loan for vehicle repairs to several for debt consolidation. Other popular rea- sons included home improvement, furnishings, holidays and cars. Nearly 1,500 loans have been is-
sued by the organisation, launched in 2010 to provide a safer option for
those with poor credit histories. Kent Savers
Credit Union – a partnership with the Church of Eng- land – has seen a number of church and community- based branches cre- ated.
Martin Kingman (pictured), chair-
man of Kent Savers Credit Union, said: "In the past year there has been a kick back against the very high in- terest rates charged by pay-day lenders and some banks and credit card companies. Also, banks are being more selective when agreeing loans andmanypeople such as those on benefits with small incomes re- quiring small sums for a short pe- riod find it hard to access borrowing. Kent Savers have a range of loans
and works with its members to help them save and break the debt cycle." As well as helping those strug-
gling with debts, the credit union re- lies on savers and those with good credit histories to offset the risk it takes in helping the lesswell-off. Mr Kingman said: “Our main
aims are to promote saving and pro- vide our members with loans at rea- sonable rates, so that they feel in control of their own money.”
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