Expert advice on issues ranging from health and housing to employment opportunities and dealing with debt will be available at a series of free events. Aimed at people living in County Durham, the County Durham Advice Days will take place at a number of locations between Thursday, 7th September and Friday, 20th October. The drop-ins, which will also cover topics such as benefits, fuel poverty and universal credit, will provide an opportunity for participating organisations to offer advice and information in a single location. The initiative has been developed by Durham County Council and Advice in County Durham; housing providers Karbon Homes, Livin and County Durham Housing Group; as well as Monkey – a partnership of housing and voluntary sector organisations in the county.
Sessions will run from 10.00am to 3.00pm at the following local venues: Newton Aycliffe, Youth and Community Centre, Burn Lane – Monday, 25th September Bishop Auckland, Auckland Youth and Community Centre, Walker Drive, Woodhouse Close – Friday, 20th October
In addition to the dropin sessions, residents can also make appointments in advance with the organisations involved. Cllr Carl Marshall, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for economic regeneration, said: “These advice days will not only give people the opportunity to seek assistance faceto-face but also to raise issues with a number of organisations on the same day. “There will be a range of experts on hand who will try their best to provide advice and answers there and then.” Representatives from NEFirst and Prince Bishops Community Bank credit unions will be attending all six of the sessions and offering an incentive for new savers. The first 10 adults who open an account at each advice day will receive a £25 bonus if they save a minimum of £1 per week for 12 consecutive weeks.
