Causeway Advice Consortium secures new three year deal
Mon, August 06, 2018
Causeway Advice Consortium have successfully secured a new three year contract to provide advice services to local residents in the Borough.
Led by Citizens Advice Causeway and in partnership with Limavady Community Development Initiative, the consortium operates a free service to the public offering impartial and confidential advice on issues such as debt, employment, consumer issues, tax and housing.
The new contract will ensure the continuation of the much needed service for the next three years, subject to funding from Department for Communities.
Speaking about the new contract, the Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Councillor Brenda Chivers, said: “We are delighted to be in a position to award a contract to Causeway Advice Consortium to provide this important local service. People can find themselves facing all sorts of problems and to know that there is free and confidential help out there is of much reassurance. We know that issues surrounding welfare benefits are of particular concern at present. The staff and volunteers in the advice organisations provide an invaluable service and I would urge local residents to lift the phone or call into their local advice centre.”
Citizens Advice Causeway is based in Coleraine at the CRUN Building on Brook Street while outreach services are also provided in Ballymoney, Ballycastle, Bushmills and Cushendall. Advice can be offered over the telephone by ringing 028 7034 4817. People can get in touch and make an appointment online at www.citizensadvice.org.uk/nireland and home visits are also available (dependent upon client circumstances). Clients can also email for advice and to make appointments - advice@citizensadvicecauseway.org.
The Coleraine office is open five days per week, along with a late evening opening every Thursday. Specialist Advisers are available to assist local people with tribunal representation and debt intervention.
Every Monday, from 9.15am to 11.15am, the service’s outreach session operates in Bushmills Community Centre.
In Ballycastle, the service runs from Sheskburn House every Monday afternoon from 12.30pm to 4pm, on the second, third and fourth Tuesday of every month from 10am to 11.30am and 12.30pm to 4pm, Fridays from 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm. Friday afternoons are for pre-arranged appointments only.
In Cushendall, outreach sessions are held on the first Tuesday of each month in the Old Schoolhouse from 10am to 11.30am and 12.30pm to 4pm.
Outreach sessions are held in Ballymoney Town Hall every Monday from 2pm to 4pm and Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9.15am to 11.30am and 12.30pm to 5pm. Thursday afternoons are for pre-arranged appointments only.
Advisors based at LCDI in Limavady can be contacted by ringing 028 777 65438 and pressing "3" for Advice, where they will speak to you by telephone or make an appointment to see you in person.
The Limavady telephone Advice Line service is open to deal with all your advice queries from 10.00am to 4.30pm Monday to Wednesday, 10.00am to 7.00pm every Thursday and 10.00am to 3.30pm every Friday.
The Advice Centre operates an outreach scheme in community centres in rural and outlying areas Limavady. Outreach schedules can vary so check the Facebook page or give them a call to enquire when they will next be in your area. LCDI also operates a drop in triage service on Monday afternoons from 2 to 4pm and Thursday mornings between 10.30am and 12.30pm.
Further advice services are also available in Dungiven, where Glenshane Community Development Group is subcontracted by LCDI. Glenshane House offers both a drop-in and telephone service along with pre-booked appointments. Home visits are available for those confined to their homes. The service is open from 9am – 5pm Monday – Friday and appointments can be made by ringing 028 777 42494.
The service is part funded by Department for Communities
