SLAB to fund additional money advice services

The Scottish Legal Aid Board is to fund 16 new advice projects aimed at families in Scotland who are most at risk of serious debt and money problems.

Funded under the Board’s Tackling Money Worries (TMW) programme, the projects are designed to help low-income families with children who are facing a change in their circumstances which places them at higher risk of debt and money problems. The Scottish Government has given its approval for the Board to spend up to £2.4m between October 2014 and the end of September 2016 on initiatives related to the Government’s revised Child Poverty Strategy.

The projects comprise eight focusing on the birth of a child and early years; two focusing on changes to family structure, such as when a relationship breakdown occurs; and six focusing on the impact of going through the criminal justice system, including families where someone is in prison or about to leave prison.

There will be direct advice and help for families to deal with crisis debt issues, as well as help with building on their money management skills to support family life through early years and childhood. The TMW programme will involve quality debt advice providers working with agencies that are already trusted by families in their community. 

The new projects are additional to 92 grant-funded projects currently supported by the Scottish Government in combination with the Money Advice Service. These programmes were due to end in March 2015, but both funders now intend continuing this funding partnership beyond that date. 

Lindsay Montgomery, chief executive of the Scottish Legal Aid Board, said: “The projects will play an important role in helping find long-term solutions for low-income families struggling with financial difficulties by dealing with their underlying debts.

“They will provide support to some of the hardest to reach families in Scotland who are most at risk of facing complex financial problems.

“We appreciate the financial support from the Scottish Government for this programme of grants.”

The Board has a current grant funding programme which funds projects around Scotland to help people who are facing court action and problems associated with housing and debt issues.