Need free money advice? MAM knows best
It will be no shock to hear that increasingly many people are falling into financial difficulties in light of the recession but what may be surprising to learn is that many people are unable to sort out their personal finances because they don’t know where to turn for help.
Recent years have seen an increase in the fee-charging money and debt advice sector with the result that many individuals facing financial difficulties, who are often those who can least afford it, are paying for money or legal advice. However the reality is that there are many organisations throughout the UK where people can access free, independent and quality advice.
Despite this range of free money and legal advice centres, Credit Action, the national money education charity, believes that more needs to be done to raise awareness of where people can access free and independent advice to help them through this difficult time.
As a result Credit Action have today launched an internet search facility, the Money Advice Map (MAM), that will enable individuals to search for the nearest free money or legal advice agency to their place of work or home.
At present some individual advice agencies have search facilities that enable people to search for their nearest centre, but the Money Advice Map is one of the first of its kind to incorporate multiple agencies. Advice UK, Community Legal Advice, Christians Against Poverty, and Community Money Advice are just some of the organisations partnering in this venture.
Credit Action has seen that there is a real need for a web location that provides individuals with a single point of contact to easily search for free monetary and legal advice centres in their postcode, an issue supported by HM Treasury.
The internet search facility will not only provide directions to the nearest advice centre, but also includes key information relating to the nature of the agencies’ work, opening times and eligibility criteria in order to inform users not only where the nearest agency is, but also to enable them to choose the most relevant agency to their issue of concern.
The shock of the recession experienced by households and individuals throughout the UK provides us with a vital opportunity to change our financial habits in the long term.
A first step in this process will be signposting people to free and independent help and assistance so that they can avoid the pain of debt and learn about better money management - the Money Advice Map has been created to do exactly that.
So if you find yourself concerned by money worries and don’t know where to turn, just ask MAM.
The Money Advice Map can be accessed by following this link (opens in same window)
The Money Advice Map has been developed by Credit Action and is generously supported by Callcredit. For further information on the MAM or how to get involved please contact office@creditaction.org.uk
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