AN axed advice lifeline to thousands on Wearside is to re-open after securing funding.
Washington Citizens Advice Bureau's "open door" service, which has helped with everything from divorce and debt to housing benefits and homelessness, ended last month, leaving Wearside without a free advice walk-in centre.
But a council grant has n
ot only saved the service, but will see it expand.
Funding for the bureau at The Elms in Front Street, Concord, ran out on March 30. But it continued to provide a service, refusing to let down the people of the city.
Now Sunderland Council has provided funding to enable it to move into new purpose-built premises and expand its service.
Washington Citizens Advice Bureau, which provides city-wide help, had 51,000 visitors between January 2004 and 2005, and in January saw a 95 per cent increase in inquiries on the previous month.
Now, thanks to the council grant, the bureau will be opening a new one-stop shop in the heart of Concord, where it will be providing a new face-to-face crisis service to cope with increasing demand around debt, housing and money management issues.
Speaking about the funding, Irene Smith, the bureau's service director, said: "The additional SIB (strategic initiative budget) funding has enabled us to get this project off the ground.
"Now, thanks to the contribution from Washington local area committee, we will be providing the community with a modernised service, increased telephone access and appointments with qualified advisers.
"The new office in Concord shopping precinct is in easy reach of the bus station.
"Washington is an area of high demand and we're delighted we can now boast that this service will be the only one of its type in the city."
As well as the face-to-face crisis service, the new centre will also be equipped with up-to-the minute IT equipment, will enable advice workers to reduce client waiting times, offer more appointments and continue their work to reduce homelessness and improve health by increasing income opportunities.
Derek Sleightholme, chairman of the area committee, which funded the scheme, said: "This is a much-needed resource for the city – the figures showing the number of visitors speak for themselves.
"We already anticipate an additional 184 clients a year as a result of the new centre and a reduction in people losing their homes by 225.
"Achieving all this is money well spent and the area committee wishes this project every success.
"We look forward to hearing feedback at one of our area committees, as I know this is a project of great interest to a lot of people."
It is anticipated the new purpose-build centre will be completed in August at a cost of £90,000.
