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Community Money Advice Setting up a Debt Advice
Centre
Community Money Advice:
…..has set up over 130 money/debt advice projects
…..trained 497 people as generalist advisers in 2013
…..advisers often have little or no experience of giving debt advice before getting involved
…..client’s debts range from a few pounds to over £1m
…..provides a range of support services for centres
What is Debt Advice?
Debt advice is a series of tools
and professional strategies that
can be used to help clients with
financial difficulties
How can we do that?
Enabling clients to maximise their income
Explaining the implications of non-payment of their debts
Helping them to decide which are priorities
Assisting them to plan their budgeting
Helping them to choose a strategy
Assisting by advice or representation with the implementation of whatever strategy is chosen
Regulated or not…?
FCA authorisation
What is regulated activity?
What can you do if you are not authorised?
What can you do if you are authorised?
How do you set up a centre?
A sense of calling
Background reading and research
Visiting existing centres
Talking to those with a common interest (eg CAB)
Deciding on what sort of project you wish to have
Calling for volunteers/staff
How do you set up a centre?
Premises and practicalities
Authorisation / Policies & Procedures / Insurance
Training
Funding
Reference & Publicity materials
Opening
What role can you play?
Become a debt adviser
Be a budget counsellor / coach
Provide administration support
Run a centre
Answer the telephone & make appointments
Make tea or coffee and hand out the tissues
Become a financial donor
What services does CMA offer?
Help, advice & mentoring for those setting up a centre and ongoing (OSM)
Model Policies & Procedures
Bespoke centre administration software
Free membership of AdviceUK
Reduced fee indemnity insurance
Training from basic through to skilled & specialist level
What services does CMA offer?
Freephone Adviceline 12 hrs a day / 5 dpw
Annual conference
Information update & exchange
Website with online resources
Referral service for DROs and IVAs
Regional network for further support
Community Money Advice
No amount of training will
prepare you for your first client!
AdviceUK and money advice
FinCan Forum MeetingThe Davidson Building Gateshead
16th July 2015
Jayne BellisBusiness Development Consultant
(Northern)
Content
• About AdviceUK• Benefits of membership & money
advice support.• AdvicePro case management system• Consultancy services
About AdviceUK
• Largest network of independent advice agencies in the UK (750+ members)
• Founded 1979 as Federation of Independent Advice Centres (FIAC)
• England, Wales and Scotland (partner Advice NI)
• Currently 23 staff, mostly based in London
Who are Members of AdviceUK?• Diverse in terms of size, operating
identity and focus• 25% specifically target services on niche
client groups, e.g. BAMER communities, disabled people, etc.
• Predominantly urban• Many members do not have advice as
their sole or main focus e.g. RSL’s, community trusts, charitable trusts and student services
Money advice provision
• Over 400 AdviceUK members provide money advice
• 96% provide face to face advice• 53% deliver money advice in community
outreach centres.• 31% of members also offer financial
capability
Some current issues
• Economic environment• Regulation• Prescriptive Requirements• Current Trends• A whole person approach
Member services
• Member updates, communications and events• Consultancy• AdvicePro case management software
• VCS Insurance• Croner Business Support Helpline• Training & staff development• Jobs in Advice• Annual Conference• Influencing and opinion-forming
Money Advice Support:
• To members– Money advice consultancy and support– Competent Authority for Debt Relief Orders– Access to free Wiseradviser training– Access to National Homelessness Advice Service– Access to Expert Advice Team at Citizens Advice
• Influencing and opinion-forming– Research & consultation responses– Member of FCA Consumer Network, Money Advice
Service Debt Advice Programme Advisory Forum, FOS Consumer Liaison Group, etc.
AdvicePro CMS• Case management software• Secure cloud based • Enables flexible and efficient working• Over 2000+ users in 200+ agencies• Advice agencies, LA’s, RSL’s,
immigration and disability charities and Student Unions.
• Compliant with LSC, MAS & CFS
Consultancy Services
• All members get free support from AdviceUK consultancy team
• Expertise also available for paid for assignments, reports and projects
• Wide range of expertise available e.g. each region has different expertise
• Support to secure external funding for consultancy work
Northern Region Expertise
• Social enterprise, income generation, governance & legal structure
• Funding• Money debt & benefits advice & training• People and soft skills• Advice team set up, management,
compliance, systems, procedures.• Social media, marketing and community
engagement. • Evaluation, feasibility studies and report
projects• Financial Capability projects
Any questions?
Contact detailsJayne Bellis
Business Development Coordinator (Northern Region)
Telephone 03333 404 383Mobile 07721 377318Email
