Salisbury money advice service facing closure without fresh backing
The Financial Inclusion Service was launched last year by Acorn Community Bank
A money advice service in Salisbury is facing closure unless it secures funding to continue providing support.
Acorn Community Bank’s Financial Inclusion Service opened in April 2024 with funding from Wiltshire Council’s Health Inequalities Fund for 12 months, after a joint bid by Acorn and Salisbury City Council.
But funding is required to allow the service to continue.
It see's Financial Inclusion Officers Julie Straughan and Jade Walker visit people in Salisbury and Bemerton Heath in order to give advice on how people can resolve their financial issues.
Over the last year, they've helped hundreds of people with money worries about benefit claims, credit cards, rent arrears and energy bills through their conversations in cafes and community centres.
Acorns Chief Executive Clive Henly said: “Julie and Jade have built up a rapport with many frontline agencies in Salisbury and have helped numerous people over the past year.
“We would love this service to continue and help many more people – not just in Salisbury but in other areas – and we would welcome donations to help fund this.”
The service was originally intended to aid people with benefits but the officers quickly found they were dealing with much more complex problems.
To donate to the Financial Inclusion Service, find more details about the bank’s services or to get in touch go to acorncommunitybank.co.uk.