News In Focus

SLAB announces grant-funded advice provision

9 October 2012

A total of 16 advice bodies across Scotland are to benefit from a £7m advice programme funded by the Scottish Legal Aid Board over the next three years, details of which have just been announced.

Earlier this year the Board invited applications to support a programme approved by Scottish ministers, prioritising in-court advice and representation services for people facing repossession of their homes, post-court advice to help people tackle debt issues which threatened to make them homeless, and information and guidance about civil court processes and the alternatives, along with assistance to resolve small claims disputes. The programme will take up the major part of the Board's grant funding activity for the three years from October 2012.

The successful candidates have been chosen from a large number of applicants who between them would have accounted for about twice the available money - which unlike other activities funded by the Board is set at a fixed budget. They range from in-court advice services in Orkney and the Western Isles, to Dundee and Edinburgh, to the courts of Dumfries & Galloway.

Board chief executive Lindsay Montgomery said: “We appreciate the financial support from both the Scottish Government and the Money Advice Service for this significant programme of grants.      

“The projects will play an important role in helping find long-term solutions for people struggling with financial difficulties by dealing with the underlying debts that are often the root cause of housing problems.      

“Spread across Scotland, they will be seeking solutions that prevent homelessness and try to put in place sustainable debt solutions.”

Of the £7m, £4.8m is being provided by the Scottish Government and £2.2m by the Money Advice Service.

Click here to see the full list of successful applicant organisations.