Advice Services Policy Statement

The need for independent, non-statutory advice and representation is underpinned by the important principle that everyone, including government, is subject to the law. This is part of the essential checks and balances of a healthy democracy.

Independent advice effectively targets groups prioritised by Targeting Social Need and is committed to social justice principles. The vast majority of advice given is in the areas of social security, debt, housing and employment, with over half of all advice sector work in the area of social security.

A vibrant network of independent advice agencies exists across Northern Ireland. For instance, Citizens Advice dealt with 205,531 enquiries from 148,250 people in Northern Ireland during 2002/03, while members of the Association of Independent Advice Centres dealt with 208,420 enquiries from 102,311 people. The largest area of enquiry remains social security which accounted for over 50% of all enquiries.

However, there are gaps in provision with demand far exceeding supply. Literacy problems, an inability to articulate need and lack of knowledge mean that thousands of people are denied access to their rights, contributing to social exclusion.

At present advice agencies’ work is severely hampered because over 50% of funding is of a temporary nature, yet all government departments have responsibilities that impact on the need for independent advice.

Political parties and the Assembly should:

• Recognise that government has a duty to support access to independent information, advice, advocacy and representation services for everyone in Northern Ireland.
• Secure increases in the Rate Support Grant to local councils with a safeguard ensuring independent advice services are adequately funded.
• Devise a central cross-cutting strategy across all government departments, which recognises the role of the independent advice sector. This strategy should be rooted in local community ownership and cover local, generalist, specialist and regional advice including tribunal advocacy, money advice and disability advice.
• Implement the strategy by mainstreaming funding at an appropriate level including a proper level of support for advice workers and volunteers.
• Agree and support well-resourced debt advice services for Northern Ireland.
• Establish a Community Legal Service which would validate good advice and have a quality mark attached.
• Establish a Childcare Information Service for Northern Ireland which would provide free and impartial advice to everyone.