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Local Money & Debt Advice Organisations

Many families find themselves struggling financially with the current economic climate, changes to the welfare benefits system and the pressures of everyday life. If you would like help learning how to keep a budget, advice with debt or arrears, or are worried about illegal money lenders (loan sharks) or pay day loans there are various organisations in Luton who can help you.

Visit the links below which will take you to the individual pages for these organisations:

Citizens Advice Bureau
The Citizens Advice service aims to provide the advice people need for the problems they face and to improve the policies and practices that affect people’s lives. They provide free, independent, confidential and impartial advice to everyone on their rights and responsibilities regardless of race, sex, gender identity, age, disability, sexuality, faith or nationality. They can help you with budgeting, arrears, court fines, balliffs, and help you understand and manage your debt. Team of volunteer and paid specialist advisers offers practical support and assistance at the Bureau, on the telephone and in the community through home visits and regular outreach sessions at Lewsey Community Centre, Bushmead Community Centre and Marsh Farm Futures.

Luton Rights
Provides free, independent and confidential specialist advice and casework on welfare benefits, debt and money advice, employment, housing and employment support services including: help to produce a CV, help with job searches, covering letters, careers advice, interview techniques, skills for jobs training, short courses in first aid, health and safety, food hygiene, basic computers, and ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages).

Illegal Money Lending Team
Illegal money lenders, also known as loan sharks, lend money without a Consumer Credit Licence. Their loans often do not have any paperwork, receipts or cashbooks; they may use intimidation or violence and encourage you to borrow money that you cannot repay. If you have been affected by a loan shark contact the team who can offer you support to rid yourself of the shark, protect you from further intimidation, and prosecute the lender.

Financial Assessment Team LBC
This team is responsible for the assessment of entitlement to Housing and Council Tax Support, Free School Meals and Adult Social Care charges. They can help with information about benefit entitlements and make home visits to ensure residents are getting all the benefits that they are entitled to. You can also apply online for Housing Benefit, Council Tax Support and Free School Meals.

Housing solutions unit
A team of officers to discuss your situation and advise on help and assistance available if you are at risk of eviction or homelessness. They can advise you on your rights, and provide initial legal advice in relation to the private rented sector, homelessness and temporary accommodation to those whom the council owe a duty.

Crisis Support Scheme
The scheme includes Crisis Awards and Community Care Awards.  Designed to help vulnerable local individuals and families who have exceptional one-off difficulties, providing they are receiving or would be entitled to receive a means tested benefit or state pension.

Foodbank
If you are unable to feed your family you may be able to get a referral from a local advice agency to get a food parcel from the foodbank. 

Post Office Budget Card
A convenient way to begin budgeting for your bills the Post Office Budget Card enables you to regularly save as little as £5 to help you pay your household bills. You must be over 18 to apply, there are no fees and you cannot go overdrawn. Once you have a card and have started saving, just pop into your local branch and use the card to pay your bills.

Money Matters Credit Union
MoneyMatters is a well established mutual society in Luton operating since November 1995. Locally delivered and ethically focused, we offer excellent value loans and savings.

Money Advice Service
The MAS website has an easy to use budget planner, advice about shopping smarter to make your money go further, coping with financial cost of many life events, and tools to help you manage your money.

The Money Advice Service have also teamed up with the NHS to create a useful quiz to identify if your money worries are affecting your health.  You can take the quiz here and get helpful advice to put you back in control. 

Who to contact

Telephone

Last updated 04/11/2021