Dear Sir,
This week I have been to a seminar held by the “Advice in County Durham Partnership” and would like to share the knowledge I have gained. We listened to a number of presenters who were all giving the messages of where to find help when required and with the weather becoming colder some of these are particularly relevant now.
NEA are a fuel poverty charity who can help you if you find you cannot afford your fuel bills, www.fuelpovertyresource.org.uk and www.turn2us.org.uk.
Managing Money Better provide real support in helping you to get the right energy supplier and tariff, they will do home visits and help you to any changes you want in your home whilst they are there. Contact warmhomes@durham.gov.uk for more information.
Northumbrian Water spoke about their support including rebates and capped costs, contact them on 0345 733 5566 or they also work with StepChange Debt Charity who can be reached on 0800 138 111 or www.stepchange.org .
In addition we discussed the problems of debt and it is really important that when money is tight you do not go to the high interest cost lenders, this will cost substantially more in the long run.
An example would be that a TV costing £500 on the High Street could cost you £936 from a doorstep lender or £1,092 from a weekly payment store, but if you joined a Credit Union the cost would be around £549.
On Thursday 23rd November the Credit Union will be opening in Newton Aycliffe Library and whether you are a saver or a borrower please consider joining them.
Cllr Paul Howell
