South Derbyshire District Council

Help is available whether you need free advice, to apply for benefits or are looking for ways to save money.

Debt advice

Derbyshire Housing Aid are available to give debt advice to our tenants and applicants at Civic Offices, Swadlincote on Thursday mornings, 9.30 - 12.30. For an appointment, call 01283 595778.

The Citizens Advice service helps people resolve their legal, money and other problems by providing free, independent and confidential advice. http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/

Consumer Credit Counselling Service - Debt problems cause great stress and anxiety and can sometimes seem insurmountable. Miracle solutions advertised by debt management companies are often too good to be true. If you are struggling with money, the Consumer Credit Counselling Service is here to help you. A national charity, they won't charge you for setting up a debt management plan and can even provide basic debt counselling anonymously online at CCCS Debt Remedy.

There are lots of other places offering free and independent debt advice - the National Debt Line is on 0808 808 4000 and the Debt Support Trust can be found at www.debtsupporttrust.org.uk .

Our visiting officers can give tenants advice about debt.

What happens if I am at risk of becoming homeless?

As soon as you are worried about the risk of losing your home, contact us to arrange an appointment to discuss what you can do and what we can do to help prevent that from happening. The sooner you speak to us, the more chance there is that we can help to prevent you from losing your home.

What happens if I am at risk of becoming homeless?

Tax advice

People over 60 with an income below £17,000 can get free advice from professional tax advisors. TaxHelp for Older People runs surgeries across the UK.

Loan Sharks

Derbyshire Trading Standards works to crack down on loan sharks. If you're concerned about illegal money lending, you can call 01332 644 000 or 'Shop a Shark' on 0300 555 2222.

Council Tax and Housing Benefits

Are you claiming the benefits you are entitled to?

Paying bills such as Council Tax and your rent by Direct Debit may help you to manage your money.

Energy efficiency and energy schemes

Energy Schemes such as Warmfront, Heatsavers, Rural landlord scheme can help with fuel poverty.

Grants – charities set up by British Gas, edf and Severn Trent

Fun for free (or nearly free)

There are lots of fun things that you can do for free or nearly for free.

Travel and discounts

If you're under 18 or over 60, why not apply for a b_line card or Derbyshire Gold Card? The cards will get you discounts, access to library services and discounted or free travel.

If you can't use public transport, then community transport may be the answer. Dial-a-Bus and Dial-a-Ride schemes operate in many parts of Derbyshire.

If you find it hard to walk far, you may qualify for a blue badge so that you can park closer to where you need to be.

Other money-saving tips

Perhaps there's been no better time to quit smoking to help your health as well as your bank balance.

Energy tips such as turning your central heating down by one degree can save you money and help the environment. Our energy pages offer top tips and advice. There may even be a grant available to help you.

Get rid of left-overs and help your garden grow by making your own compost. You can buy a cut-price compost bin.

The average family wastes £50 a month buying food and throwing it away. For tips on making your food and money go further, visit www.lovefoodhatewaste.com

Try reusable nappies with a £25 cashback voucher.

A Credit Union is a profit-sharing, democratically-run financial co-operative which offers convenient savings and low interest loans to its members. The members own and manage their Credit Union themselves.

Other things that we are doing to help

Council tenants will only face 3.1 per cent rise in rents

We will be appointing a debt councillor to advise people on their money worries. Due to the high level of unemployment in Newhall, this person will be based in the village’s Old Post Centre in High Street.

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