Don’t Suffer in Silence if Struggling with Redundancy

15 September 2011

The chief executive of a North East-based advice service has urged people not to struggle alone after it was announced this week that unemployment in the UK has rocketed by 80,000 in just three months - with almost a quarter of the increase attributed to the North East of England.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has reported that between February and April 2011 unemployment in the North East increased dramatically by 18,000. This leaves the region with the highest rate of unemployment in the country with 10.7 per cent out of work.

Liz Chadwick, Chief Executive of DAWN Advice, which offers free and independent debt and legal advice, said it was unsurprising that the region had seen the second-highest change in unemployment figures across the country given the affect that public sector cuts have had across the North East.

She said: "Just how hard our region has been hit by public sector cuts is simply undeniable. Not only has the North East been left reeling following seemingly endless public sector job cuts, we are also experiencing the knock-on effects within our private sector. Businesses which had previously worked closely with state-funded organisations are now feeling the strain."

As the country prepares for the possibility of yet more spending cuts it is anticipated that nationally there will be hundreds of thousands more jobs lost - a proportion of which will inevitably hit the North East.

Liz warned that anyone who is facing the possibility of redundancy should seek advice as soon as possible, rather than waiting until they are made redundant.

She said: "What many do not realise is that help is available before the worst happens and people should ensure that they seek advice at the earliest possible stage to prevent further issues from developing. Preparing for the worst eventuality can be the best way to prevent financial hardship should redundancy occur.

"Since the start of the recession our team of expert advisors have been contacted by thousands of individuals facing financial crisis as a result of losing their jobs, many comment on how they wished they had asked for help sooner in a bid to stop their problems from escalating.

"Unemployment can affect people in all matters of ways - not just financially. A job loss can put relationships under a huge amount of strain, can affect people's health and may lead to further problems including issues with housing if troubles aren't addressed quickly.

"By picking up the phone or calling into a Citizens Advice Bureau, fully-qualified advisors can work with people who are at risk of redundancy to prepare in case they do lose their job - this will often help to prevent missed payments, stop bills from racking up and can ultimately allow people to feel more in control of their situation.

"When it comes to financial matters prevention is always the best course of action but it is never too late to ask for help. So whether someone is concerned about the possibility of debt or if they are already struggling with mounting arrears there's always a solution."

Anyone with concerns about their employment or financial status should contact DAWN Advice through the newly expanded Northern Debt Line for free and independent advice on 0300 33 33 44 5, or alternatively visit their local Citizens Advice Bureau.