29 - Advice project nets thousands for families

 

 

Dudley Council’s Children’s Information Service (CIS) teamed up with the Citizens Advice Bureaux (CAB) to launch the pilot project in the borough’s six children’s centres.

 

Families who use the centres are given free and confidential advice on the benefits and tax credits they are entitled to, as well as help with filling in application forms.

 

Since the project was launched last summer, 160 residents have been helped to discover their entitlements – meaning a total of £47,419 has been identified for families who would otherwise have missed out.

 

Under the advice project, CAB advisor Estelle Plante is available for one three-hour session per week in each of the children’s centres. As well as giving help with benefits, Estelle is able to offer information about housing, debt management, family life and employment.

 

Children’s centres offer access to childcare combined with early education, health services, training opportunities for adults and specialist support such as speech and language therapy and help for children with additional needs.

Six centres are currently open in the borough at Brierley Hill, Kates Hill and Sledmere, Netherton Park, Wrens Nest, Priory and Lye, which has a satellite site at Wollescote Primary School. A further 11 centres at sites across the borough are currently being developed.

 

The project is being run by the CAB alongside Dudley’s CIS, which offers free help and advice for parents looking for childcare, early education and leisure activities.

 

 

“Children’s centres already offer a wide variety of help and support for families and I am delighted to hear that this new project has been such a successful addition to the work already being done.

 

“I would encourage parents and carers who have not yet used the CAB service to ask at their local centre to find out more.”

 

For details about the information sessions contact the CIS team on 01384 814398 or 01384 814399.