CHAP provides free, independent debt advice and practical solutions for all - no matter how big or small the debt problem. With a team of specialist staff, one of CHAP’s expert debt advisers can talk individuals through ytheir options and help them decide the best way forward, before setting up a chosen debt solution and allowing individuals to take back control of their life.

Services on offer include:

• Negotiating repayments with creditors, including payday loan lenders
• Advice on bankruptcy
• Assistance with court proceedings
• Accredited Debt Arrangement Scheme (DAS) advisors
• Assistance with council tax arrears
• To get in touch, call 030 0002 0002,email enquiries@chap.org.uk or use the online contact form at www.chap.org.uk/contact-us.

In addition to the new debt advice service, a Financial Inclusion Partnership for North Ayrshire has recently been established by NAHSCP.

Representatives from CHAP joined a number of welfare rights, debt and financial inclusion services, as well as key partner services and organisations operating in North Ayrshire, at the Redburn Community Centre in Irvine recently for the second meeting of the Partnership.

This new partnership was one of the key objectives detailed in the North Ayrshire Financial Inclusion Strategy 2023-28, which sets out North Ayrshire Council’s response to the current cost of living crisis in relation to the provision of welfare rights and debt advice, as well as wider financial inclusion services.

With representatives from public and third sector advice services, as well as key stakeholders from employability, education, housing, social work, customer services, Community Link Workers, the DWP and Alcohol and Drugs Partnership, partnership members share a common aim of working together to support people in North Ayrshire - in particular those most vulnerable and isolated - to reduce financial exclusion and child poverty.

The partnership aims to foster collaboration and enable a joint approach, making the best use of all available resources to provide the greatest benefits to individuals, families and communities in relation to entitlements, managing money, debt, financial literacy, digital inclusion, affordable lending, fuel poverty, health and wellbeing and more.

In addition to CHAP, representatives from Money Matters, NAC’s Welfare Reform and Advice team, Cunninghame Housing Association’s Welfare Rights and Lemon Aid services, ANCHO, Children 1st and Christians Against Poverty attended a marketplace event as part of the recent meeting to showcase the services they are able to provide North Ayrshire residents to partnership stakeholders.

Councillor Margaret Johnson, cabinet member for Health and Social Care at North Ayrshire Council, said: “Financial inclusion means that everyone, regardless of their background or income, has access to advice, information and support in order to help effectively manage their finances - and avoid health and wellbeing issues linked to experiencing financial difficulties, including unmanageable debt .

“The cost of living crisis has affected every one of us and necessitates an immediate response from organisations like us who can make a positive difference to people’s lives.

“We know that the cost of living crisis is having the greatest impact on low-income households, particularly people with disabilities or long-term health conditions, lone parent families and people in rural and island communities.

“However, there is also increasing demand for debt advice from people who sit just above the benefits entitlement threshold and from people who were traditionally less likely to access advice services, such as homeowners and professional people.

“We would encourage anyone who is concerned about debt, benefits, or other financial concerns such as fuel poverty, to please seek out support from one of the many fantastic advice services on offer to North Ayrshire residents.”