Telephone Advice: Creating a Lifeline for Struggling Northumbrians

17 February 2011

A new telephone advice line for Northumberland residents has been inundated with calls since its launch last October as the region continues to battle through harsh times.

Now bosses at DAWN Advice are urging more Northumberland residents to join the hundreds of people who have already picked up the phone to access free help or advice.

Launched in October 2010, the Northumberland Single Telephone Advice Service has already helped over 500 Northumbrians to access free and independent legal advice - with issues ranging from financial and housing matters to family law and welfare benefits.

The service is designed to bring together a series of legal provisions offered by the county's Citizens Advice Bureaux and their partner organisations to ensure that residents receive the most appropriate support to help with their circumstances.

People living in rural areas of Northumberland or those reliant on public transport do not always have easy access to face-to-face services so the telephone advice line allows advisers to conduct an initial assessment of the client's needs over the telephone so their local CAB can then arrange an appointment with a specialist caseworker.

Liz Chadwick, Chief Executive of DAWN Advice which manages the service, said: "This approach to providing legal advice services is not only allowing more people to access essential and impartial advice on a range of issues but is also helping to speed up the process by identifying almost immediately what support is required and who is the right person to help an individual without a client having to contact numerous organisations.

"Since the launch of the new service in October we have received a staggering number of calls but there will still be many people from all over Northumberland worrying about the rising cost of living. These worries can affect all aspects of people's lives from their living situations to health problems so I'd urge anyone who may be concerned about their circumstances to contact the service straightaway.

"Many problems related to social law, if not managed effectively, will easily evolve into further issues so the advice line has been devised so clients can access a huge number of advice services by making just one phone call. 

Set up in 1998, DAWN Advice is a Northumberland-based social enterprise which offers advice and information on a number of legal issues including debt, housing, employment, welfare benefits and family law. DAWN Advice took over the operation of DAWN CAB (formerly Castle Morpeth CAB) in 2009 after it was faced with closure.

Anyone with legal worries should contact the Northumberland Single Telephone Advice Service on 0844 4111 309 or visit their local Citizens Advice Bureau.