|
There is a growing recognition that problem debts can be a barrier to employment. We are working in partnership with Sheffield City Council’s Lifelong Learning and Skills service to provide debt and benefits advice to unemployed people who are being helped under the Council’s Supported Employability Programme.
Organisations who are part of this programme may make referrals to a dedicated adviser for a full casework service.
It is already clear that many people helped through this innovative partnership have found the service to be helpful in both the immediate terms of resolving their debt and benefits problems and also in their goal of moving from unemployment to employment. |
|
Last Updated on Monday, 10 October 2011 09:15 |
|
|
|
The DSU runs one of several projects led by Citizens Advice under contract to the Money Advice Service. We employ, supervise and co-ordinate debt advisers for the whole of Sheffield.
Face to face Debt Advice is funded by the government to tackle financial exclusion. It has been designed to target three priority areas: access to free face-to-face money advice; access to banking services; and access to affordable credit.
Face to face debt advisers are based in partner advice centres and at the DSU. You can contact Sheffield's 'Adviceline' on 0844 411 3111, or your local advice centre, if you want to obtain an appointment for advice on your debts. Ask for an appointment at a location near you, or with one of the DSU's Debt and Disability Advisers if you have a disability or long-term illness.
|
|
|
As a legacy of funding and support from Nationwide MoneyActive in 2010-12, we now organise and train a team of volunteers - Money Support Workers - with financial capability and budgeting skills so that they will be able to go out into the local community to share their knowledge.
Money Support Workers work alongside debt workers in several different advice centres and communities in Sheffield. They also get involved in projects around financial capability, such as last winter's 'Warm Homes: Healthy People' initiative in Sheffield, or the 'Energy Best deal' initiative from Citizens Advice. Some also produce leaflets, become specialist in switching utilities or in getting bargains.
If this sort of work interests you, and you would like to volunteer, ring us on 0114 280 3908, and ask to speak to our volunteer co-ordinator, or go to our volunteering page for further contact details.
|
|
Last Updated on Tuesday, 10 July 2012 12:39 |
|
Under a Project funded by the Royal British Legion, the DSU can provide debt and benefits advice to those who are serving, or have served, in the armed forces, and their dependents. Not only is a full casework service provided but, in some circumstances, grants may be paid by armed forces charities to meet pressing needs.
For further information, or to request an appointment, contact eileen.burn@debtsupportunit.org.uk
|
|
The Debt Support Unit works in partnership with a number of 'registered housing providers' to provide debt and benefits advice to their tenants. Registered housing providers are public sector landlords and housing associations (formerly known as 'registered social landlords'), and a number of these in Sheffield fund this Project. The full list of providers is below.
Tenants referred to us will get advice on all their debts and on benefits that may help them maximise their income to pay off or avoid running into arrears. As a result they are more likely to be able to afford and keep their home. Many tenants we have seen have complex problems and our specialists are well equipped to help resolve these.
If you are a tenant of one of the landlords below, and money problems endanger your ability to keep your home, please talk to them about a referral. Each landlord has a limited number of referral slots they can use. If your landlord chooses not to refer you, you can still get help at your local neighbourhood advice centre - see the Advice Sheffield website for details.
Landlords supporting the project are: Sanctuary, Sheffield Homes, South Yorkshire Housing Association, Guiness Northern Counties, Great Places, Pennine, and Arches.
|
|
|
Opportunity Sheffield was a service aimed at providing impartial help and support to employers and their employees and helping them to access the wealth of services that are available. The Project, as operated by the DSU, fnished on 30th April 2012.
As part of this service we offered specialist support for workforce development and staff retention. These Support Packages were delivered through Specialist Employer Advisers who aimed to equip employers, line managers and co-workers with the skills and knowledge to support Sheffield's workforce and assist in making them an "employer of choice".
It is getting harder for employees to leave money worries at home. Research shows that financial stress is impacting on the workplace and causing employers lost time, as distracted employees try to make payments take time off ill with stress, or simply just worry about their problems whilst at work
The Project provided individual help for employees who are referred by their employers, plus website resources to help in managing debt, for those being assisted by the Project. Those website resources will now be made public.
The DSU will continue to provide services to businesses in the Sheffield area on a fee paying basis. Contact John Donkersley on 0114 280 3920 or e-mail john.donkersley@debtsupportunit.org.uk .
|
Opportunity Sheffield was supported financially by Yorkshire Forward and the European Union.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Our Projects
