Free debt advice in Ballymena

The 825,000 contract, awarded by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI), to Advice NI, will complement the existing face-to-face debt advice service already funded by DETI in Northern Ireland.

It will give particular support to those areas and sectors of society which are disadvantaged in their access to advice services and expands DETI's free debt advice service to the Ballymena area as well as Armagh, Cookstown, Downpatrick, Limavady, Lisburn, Magherafelt, Moyle and Strabane.

Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster said: "In these times of increased financial difficulty, my Department wants to help those consumers in greatest need. This investment will supplement the valuable work that is already being done and will give people greater access to free, face-to-face debt advice across Northern Ireland.

"Advice will be available, in neutral surroundings, on a wide range of issues including debt, benefits, housing, tax, employment and consumer issues. The 16 additional debt advisors will help to ensure assistance is available to those in financial difficulty at the earliest opportunity."

The Minister concluded: "I would like to congratulate Advice NI and their participating member organisations for getting the service, Debt Action NI, up and running in such a short period of time and wish them every success with this project." The new debt advice service will run until 31 March, 2011. It will be funded by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to the sum of 525,000 and the Ulster Bank has provided 300,000. Mike Bamber, Chief Executive of Ulster Bank's Retail Markets Division said: "Ulster Bank's priorities are closely linked with those of our customers. Today, many households are coping with reduced incomes to service the same debts as previously. That demands of us a range of solutions to help people get through this recession including financial and non-financial support for the provision of debt advice."