MAJOR NEW ADVICE, INFORMATION AND ADVOCACY SERVICES FOR MEDWAY

MAJOR NEW ADVICE, INFORMATION AND ADVOCACY SERVICES FOR MEDWAY

Citizens Advice Medway and Jobsmatch Medway are announcing the launch of a new service for those residents of Medway who are most at risk from losing their jobs as a result of the recession and credit crunch. From today Citizens Advice Medway is operating a redundancy helpline whereby people faced with redundancy can seek help and assistance on:

Their employment rights
Qualifying and applying for benefits
Maximising their income
Getting the right redundancy payment
Paying their bills
Financial management
Finding another job

People can access this new service by telephoning 01634 888182 between 9.00am and 4.30pm each weekday.

Citizens Advice Medway and Jobsmatch are providing two seminars for people threatened with or made redundant on 6th and 8th January 2009 at under1roof, 5A New Road Avenue, Chatham ME4 6BB. The seminars start at 9.30am and will last about 2½ hours. They will cover all aspects of benefits, managing bills, financial management, redundancy payments/employment law and finding another job. We have capacity for 60+ people so there is no need to book a place.

Citizens Advice Medway CEO, Peter Stokes, said: We are delighted to join up with Jobsmatch Medway in providing this service but are deeply saddened by the need to do so. Being made redundant happens to so many people during their working life and it can cause deep disruption and loss of esteem. We need to support people in making sure that they are best equipped to face the difficult times ahead and help them keep their homes. This new collaboration will provide much-needed additional support to all those facing redundancy. A lot of people will be affected by the credit crunch and this service will help to ensure that people will get the help and assistance they need.

Peter Stokes added: Hopefully this will be a short term service but who knows what the future holds in these uncertain times. This service will allow us to refer people to other agencies if we are unable to help them fully. It will also allow people access to the other services that we operate on behalf of the Legal Services Commission, such as welfare benefits, debt/money, employment and housing,

Cathy Le-Page, Project Co-ordinator at Jobsmatch Medway said: Sadly "The wonder of Woolworth's will be no more" what a great shame. It would be great if any employers looking to recruit retail staff would look favourable on those being made redundant from Woolworth's, MFI and Fads, as well as others. We are hoping to register staff with us so that we can provide FREE information on employment opportunities within Medway.
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posted by pat