Issue - meetings

Verbal presentation by Sue Foster of Bestwood Advice Centre

Sue Foster, Manager and Senior Advisor at Bestwood Advice Centre delivered a presentation which is circulated with the initial publication of the minutes, and highlighted the following points:

a)  Bestwood Advice Centre is based on Gainsford Crescents and has been operating since the 1980s, providing advice and support for citizens on issues such as debt and financial management, insolvency options, tribunals, utility debts, and welfare applications;

b)  the main source of funding for the Advice Centre is currently form the City Council, but with other short-term contributors including British Gas, Coalfields, lottery, a pilot scheme of support with Life After Debt, and Bestwood Partnership;

c)  the advice centres across the city work together as a consortium of Advice Nottingham to achieve funding, watch for trends and work to advise and support citizens, include working in partnership with multiple local organisations;

d)  although usually a face-to-face service, due to the COVID-19 restrictions adaptations had to be made to remote and online working. This was achieved quite rapidly, including providing further information via social media. Following lockdown only very limited access in person was offered for extreme circumstances; 

e)  last year the service worked with a Nottingham University in providing a 4 week internship to a student. To make the most of this opportunity, Sophie worked with the service for 4 weeks researching the need for advice centres and the value they bring, not only to the individual but to the community as a whole. This project resulted in some excellent research and culminated in a presentation to local partners and agencies, which will also be used to support funding applications. A copy of the report is available electronically on request. Sophie has remained working with the Advice Centre and is now on the Board as Treasurer;

f)  COVID-19 has resulted in a rise in demand from the centre with many people have not claimed benefits or  accessed the service previously, now requesting support, often with multiple issues. The majority of support is provided over the phone and via WhatsApp photos or by post if people aren’t connected;

g)  utility companies have proved very difficult to deal with, especially as they generally hadn’t adapted their working practices due to the COVID-19 restrictions, and some almost verged on obstructive;

h)  it has been highlighted that more financial education is needed to prevent or address poor budgeting and poor financial choices. Talking to some citizens about changing their financial behaviour and choices has been difficult, particularly over the telephone (rather than in person) as some people find it easier to express their anger and frustration at a distance;

i)  during the past 9 months approximately 500 clients have been supported, which is similar to the number of people supported in the previous 12 months. Some client cases require a huge dedication of advisor time, sometimes in the region of 100 hours, particularly where there is digital exclusion;

j)  often when clients approach the Service they are already in debt, do not have capacity to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19