The Citizen Advice Bureau in Crewe, based at Victoria Street, is running a new financial project to help the local community in Crewe and Nantwich.
Project Advisor Robert Ellis explained “The purpose of the project is to reach out to those excluded from banking services, and to offer advice to help people to open a new bank account”. Help will also be offered by the CAB to develop a workable budget and to prioritise and control personal debt.
30 years ago, most people’s financial affairs were simple – a bank account, a repayment mortgage and a state pension you could rely on. Today, companies line up to offer a vast range of financial products from savings, pensions and mortgages to personal loans and credit cards. Understanding products and finding good offers is a job most people don’t have the skills and time for.
Further financial problems occur because many people simply don’t apply for tax credits or other state benefits which they may be entitled to as they find the system so complex. It is easy to see how a lack of financial confidence impacts on us all.
Rob will run a five-week course at Crewe library this summer. The series of short workshops will enable people with little or no computer knowledge to get a grasp of the Internet, in particular price comparison websites, so they can easily find the best bank deals. No fee will be charged for attending the course.
To book a place on the computer course or to find out more about the project, call Rob or Judy on 07528 610758.