Cash to help debt-counselling not being used
Wednesday, 30th September 2009.
Efforts by Haverhill Town Council to find ways of alleviating townspeople's debt problems during the recession have proved 'frustrating', according to the town clerk.
Gordon Mussett said the agencies they were trying to work with seemed to operate at a slower timescale and it was difficult to get positive responses from them.
The council committed £25,000 towards providing debt counselling, but to date only £5,000 has been allocated.
The other £20,000 remains available to support residents.
The Citizens' Advice Bureau was asked to consider submitting a project funding bid but none has been received.
MENTA, which provides advice for small businesses, was asked to consider a joint project to employ a debt recovery employee to reduce outstanding debts owed to local businesses.
Instead, MENTA preferred to offer support through training and workshops on debt management.
Town councillors felt it was unlikely small businesses would be able to afford the time to attend such sessions.
Havebury Housing agreed to a meeting to discuss options for a joint approach, but had not supplied a date for it yet.
The LEAP Centre for return-to-work training had been offered rooms at Haverhill Arts Centre free of charge to run courses, but the offer had not been taken up yet.
Mr Mussett described the response as 'frustrating' and 'disappointing' when he reported to town councillor last night (Tuesday).
The most positive response had been fromThe Foodbank and from debt-counselling group Christians Against Poverty.
The Foodbank has received a £1,500 grant and has asked for funding for a new van to help distribution, while Christians Against Poverty received £3,500 this year and £1,000 last year.
Members heard the group were working with 140 families in the town and would be taking on more.
Members approved Councillor Lynn Burgess' suggestion that the council offer free or discounted leisure activities such as cinema tickets, and earmarked £4,000 towards it.
They also agreed to make £6,000 available to the group's director Henry Wilson to use in opening up other leisure activities, specifically for children, where the cost was a barrier.
Gordon Mussett said the agencies they were trying to work with seemed to operate at a slower timescale and it was difficult to get positive responses from them.
The council committed £25,000 towards providing debt counselling, but to date only £5,000 has been allocated.
The other £20,000 remains available to support residents.
The Citizens' Advice Bureau was asked to consider submitting a project funding bid but none has been received.
MENTA, which provides advice for small businesses, was asked to consider a joint project to employ a debt recovery employee to reduce outstanding debts owed to local businesses.
Instead, MENTA preferred to offer support through training and workshops on debt management.
Town councillors felt it was unlikely small businesses would be able to afford the time to attend such sessions.
Havebury Housing agreed to a meeting to discuss options for a joint approach, but had not supplied a date for it yet.
The LEAP Centre for return-to-work training had been offered rooms at Haverhill Arts Centre free of charge to run courses, but the offer had not been taken up yet.
Mr Mussett described the response as 'frustrating' and 'disappointing' when he reported to town councillor last night (Tuesday).
The most positive response had been fromThe Foodbank and from debt-counselling group Christians Against Poverty.
The Foodbank has received a £1,500 grant and has asked for funding for a new van to help distribution, while Christians Against Poverty received £3,500 this year and £1,000 last year.
Members heard the group were working with 140 families in the town and would be taking on more.
Members approved Councillor Lynn Burgess' suggestion that the council offer free or discounted leisure activities such as cinema tickets, and earmarked £4,000 towards it.
They also agreed to make £6,000 available to the group's director Henry Wilson to use in opening up other leisure activities, specifically for children, where the cost was a barrier.
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