More than fifty new jobs will be created in Northumberland and North Tyneside to run a new national debt advice service delivered by Citizens Advice Northumberland and Citizens Advice North Tyneside. The new service is funded by the government-backed Money and Pensions Service (MaPS).

Citizens Advice in Northumberland and North Tyneside worked together with six other local Citizens Advice to win one of only three national contracts awarded by MaPS. It is investing £76 million a year into debt advice services in England over the next three years.

The two Citizens Advice centres are already recruiting for the 30+ jobs in Ashington, Northumberland and 20+ jobs in North Tyneside. The national debt advice service will begin in February 2023.

It will deliver debt advice through phone, webchat, email and video for people across England and boost the existing locally focused in-person delivery.

Abi Conway, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice Northumberland, said: “Access to free, impartial and high-quality debt advice can make a real difference to individuals who receive it, and as the cost-of-living crisis deepens, we know that demand for this advice is only going to increase. We are delighted to have received this much needed funding and are thrilled that it is coming to the North East.”

Citizens Advice Northumberland’s newly published Impact Report 2021-22 showed that debt-related problems accounted for 26 per cent of all issues it tackled in the last year – a rise of over five per cent on the year before, resulting in it managing and dealing with over 6,600 client debts totalling almost £12 million. The charity is refurbishing offices next to its Ashington administrative hub to house its centralised call centre for debt advice in England.

Mark Almond, Chief Executive at North Tyneside Citizens Advice, said: “Not only is this good news for the thousands of people who are in need of debt advice, it is also brilliant news for people who are looking to work in good, well-paid jobs in the advice sector for high calibre, nationally recognised charities. Last year North Tyneside Citizens Advice helped over 3,700 debt clients with 32,000 debt problems.”

The Citizens Advice service has been delivering funded debt advice for many years and offers free, impartial, confidential debt advice to clients through telephone, webchat and face-to-face in local offices.

Debt and money advice is available by visiting citizensadvice.org.uk or by calling 0800 2404420.

If you would like to apply to join the debt and money advice team at Citizens Advice Northumberland, visit www.citizensadvicenorthumberland.org.uk/get-involved/job-vacancies/ and at Citizens Advice North Tyneside visit https://www.ntcab.org.uk/vacancies/