People in County Durham are being asked for their views on information, advice and guidance services.
Durham County Council commissions several local charities to deliver these services alongside those provided by its own Welfare Rights Team.
They advise on a wide range of issues including managing money and debt, accessing benefits, welfare, employment, housing, consumer rights, and health and social care.
The council has launched a consultation seeking views on how these services can be delivered in the future, with a focus on ensuring they continue to meet people’s needs.
Cllr Alan Shield, the council’s cabinet member for equality and inclusion, said: “We work closely with our partner organisations such as Citizens Advice County Durham, Age UK, Durham Carers, East Durham Trust, Durham Foodbank, Community Money Advice and many others to provide our residents with free, confidential and impartial advice and support on a range of issues and topics.
“However, the advice and support needs of our residents and communities have changed in recent years.
“A good example is the increase in demand we’re seeing from people who are in either full or part-time employment and who need financial advice related to the higher cost of living due to pressures such as the rise in mortgage and rent charges as well as fuel and food cost increases.
“We’re always looking to make sure the services we commission and deliver meet those changing needs, so we are seeking people’s views on their experiences of accessing the advice service sector across the whole of County Durham.
“We’d also like to hear about the types of advice and support people would like to see offered in future and how they’d like to access it, whether that be through face-to-face appointments, telephone lines, online help or through any other suitable methods.
“Ultimately, we want to commission and deliver the most effective services we can and make it easy for people to find and access the help they need.
“To do that, we need to better understand people’s needs and experiences, so we would really welcome and appreciate local views.”
Responses to the consultation will help the council shape its commissioning arrangements for advice services in the future.
People can have their say by completing an online survey on the council’s website at durham.gov.uk/consultation.
Paper surveys are available from libraries and Customer Access Points.
The consultation closes at 5pm on Friday, August 30.
