Derry City and Strabane District Council has established this programme with support from the Department for Communities.
Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Advice Services Support Programme aims to:
- Provide free independent advice and information to people who are in most need.
- Ensure that advice is both available and accessible to all.
- Make a real difference to the lives of people who are in most need in the community.
To date Council has led the way throughout Northern Ireland in terms of how it commissions and funds the generalist Voluntary Advice Sector. Council have always strived to achieve both value for money and to maximise the impact of its funding for advice, benefiting those who are most in need.
All funded Advice Providers in Derry City and Strabane District Council area will use the Advice NI Advice Pro System. The Advice Pro System is an evidence based research methodology for the resourcing of advice services.
In addition, Council has introduced a Quality Standard for all Council Funded Providers, by way of a “Charter Mark”, which is from Gold to Bronze.
Derry City and Strabane District Council currently funds three Advice Service Providers, Advice North West, Dove House Community Trust and the Resource Centre Derry, currently these providers have achieved the Gold Award Standard.
Since July 2024 a further two service providers have been introduced to also provide advice services across the Council area, as part of a trial period until December 2024. These new providers will be undergoing assessments as part of the trial which will include Quality Standard and Charter Mark during this period. Therefore, the new providers have not been issued with a Gold, Silver or Bronze Charter Mark award at this stage.
The providers across the Derry City and Strabane District Council area include;
Advice North West
5th Floor Embassy Building
3 Strand Road
Derry
BT48 7BH
Telephone:0300 3033 650
Or
Spencer House
14-21 Spencer Road
Waterside
BT47 6QA
Telephone:0300 3033 650
Or
17 Dock Street
Strabane
BT82 8EE
Telephone:0300 3033 650
Debt/Money Advice line: 028 7137 0337
Email: [email protected]
www.advicenorthwest.com
Advice North Wests Macmillan Welfare Benefits service at Altnagelvin Hospital – Telephone Number 0300 1233 233 select option 1
Dove House Community Trust
32 Meenan Square
Derry
BT48 9EX
Telephone: 028 7126 9327
Email: [email protected]
www.dovehousecommunitytrust.org
Resource Centre Derry
Carnhill
Derry
BT48 8BA
Telephone: 028 7135 2832
Email: [email protected]
https://www.facebook.com/TheResourceCentreDerry/
Creggan Community Collective
33 Cromore Gardens
Creggan
Derry
BT48 9TF
Telephone: 028 7141 4498
Email: [email protected]
Leafair Community Association Ltd – ASK Advice Services
60a Leafair Park
Derry
BT48 8JT
Telephone: 028 7116 4792
Email: [email protected]
https://www.facebook.com/ASKSkeoge
In addition to the above, providers offer an Outreach Service at a range of locations within the Derry City and Strabane District Council area. In special circumstances Home Visits may be arranged.
Advice Providers cover the follow Core Services:
- Benefits Advice
- Consumer Advice
- Employment Advice
- Housing Advice
- Money and Debt
- Health and Disability
- Tribunal Representation
- Basic Immigration
- Referral to Specialist Organisation(s)
General Principles which cover Standard and Guidelines for Derry City and Strabane District Council Advice Centres
Independence:
- From public/statutory bodies and political bodies.
Impartiality:
- Advice provision without any prejudice, free from commercial, political or other limiting considerations.
Accessibility:
- Suitable location
- Clearly identified
- Disability friendly
- Open at least ten hours per week (to suit local demand)
- Free of any symbolism which identifies it with any party political or sectarian perspective
- No charges or invitations or pressure to make donation
Confidentially:
- Advice provided in privacy by trained advisor. No details to be passed on to other agencies without the client’s knowledge and consent.
Effectiveness:
- The Advice Centre(s) should provide an appropriate Management Committee to oversee the effective services and foster a spirit of co-operation amongst providers.
Accountability:
- The Advice providers will be accountable to Council for funding and to the communities served under their clients.
Contact:
Angela Askin or Ciara Burke
Community Development Programme Managers
Derry City and Strabane District Council
98 Strand Road
Derry
BT48 7NN
Telephone: 028 7125 3253
Email: [email protected] or