Are you worried about money? Help is Available.

This is a particularly worrying time for many households as the impact of the Covid19 outbreak puts strain on family finances. If you are worrying about money, or how to pay your bills, support is available to help you manage your finances and provide emergency help.

Mid Devon District Council works closely with a number of local organisations to make sure money and debt advice is available to Mid Devon residents. Citizens Advice, Age UK, Churches Housing Action Team (CHAT) and Navigate can all offer free and confidential advice to those in financial difficulties.

The Council has also set up a Covid19 Support Fund, in association with Devon County Council, CHAT and Navigate Charity, to help those who are now finding it difficult to afford basic essentials for their household, such as food, electricity and gas, and basic transport needs. This fund is for anyone who has been financially impacted by Covid19. A number of residents have already accessed this fund but we encourage anyone who needs help to get in touch.

Economic Development Team Leader, John Bodley-Scott, who is leading on Community Support on behalf of the Council, said:

“We are particularly concerned about those who may be worried about coming forward for help. All of the support schemes are free, impartial and confidential and designed to support those impacted by Covid19. For some this may be the first time they have run into financial difficulties. We understand that reaching out for help can be difficult but we encourage anyone who is having money difficulties at this time to contact us.”

The Mid Devon COVID-19 Support Fund can provide emergency payments to help with basic essentials such as food, household essentials, electricity and gas, etc., to help people in financial difficulties if:

• They run their own business, and cannot currently trade / their business has been drastically reduced because of the pandemic
• Their employment situation has changed and their income now no longer covers needs
• They have lost their job due to the COVID-19 outbreak
• They have still not received expected government funding (i.e. self-employed)

If you are a Mid Devon resident and have been affected financially by COVID-19, and can demonstrate a need for immediate short-term financial help, you can apply for a grant online at middevon.gov.uk/COVID19SupportFund or phone the Community Support Helpline on 01884 234387 for help to fill in an application form.

For money and debt management advice, contact:

• Money Advice Service at moneyadviceservice.org.uk
• Citizens Advice at citizensadvice.org.uk/debt-and-money/
• Age UK Mid Devon at ageuk.org.uk/middevon/our-services/information-and-advice/
• Navigate at navigatecharity.org.uk/services/money-debt-advice/
• CHAT on 01884 255606 or visit chatmid.org

The fund is being set up with £102k of funding from Devon County Council. The fund will be administered by Churches Housing Action Team (CHAT) and Navigate CIO on behalf of Mid Devon District Council.

CHAT, is a local charity based in Tiverton, which provides housing advice, tenancy support and debt and money advice as well as running the local foodbank. Navigate Charity is based in Somerset, and provides money and debt services across Somerset and Devon.