Attwood opens new Citizens Advice city centre office

Social Development Minister Alex Attwood today opened the new Citizens Advice (CAB) city centre office in Howard Street, Belfast.

Funding of £100,000 from the Department’s Modernisation Fund Capital Programme has enabled CAB to open a newly refurbished, modern, accessible office in a prominent city centre location. The refurbished premises contain a reception area, additional interview rooms and a meeting/training room. The new office also provides corporate support for six branches across Belfast and a frontline city centre advice service.

Alex Attwood said: “The newly refurbished offices are a boost for Citizens Advice. CAB is delivering a vital service to the people of Belfast and throughout Northern Ireland. Their support is often a lifeline to those who find themselves in acute difficulty and the highly skilled staff deserve credit for their professional service.

“This impressive new city centre facility will mean a better service in the Belfast area and will provide a neutral, accessible advice outlet for people in the centre of the city. The Modernisation Fund has been instrumental in the provision of these new premises for Citizens Advice, for the benefit of people living and working in the city and throughout Northern Ireland.”

Pat Colton, Area Director of the new Citizens Advice office stated: “The opening of the CAB office provides a much needed expansion of our services particularly convenient to those in the central and south areas of the city. The location on the corner of Howard Street and Great Victoria Street is well located to give access through public and private transport and in easy walking distance from inner city areas.

“This service complements the Department for Social Development’s strategy to support delivery of modern, integrated advice services as well as Belfast City Council’s innovative approach to funding advice services across the city.”

Notes to editors:

1. The objective of the £15m Modernisation Fund is to support voluntary and community organisations to modernise, to enable them to become more sustainable and deliver new and better services in an era of change. The capital programme encourages collaboration and resource sharing among voluntary and community groups.
2. Managing your money is difficult for most people, but there are things you can do to make what you have stretch further. More advice and information is also available on http://www.nidirect.gov.uk. On the nidirect website information from all departments and agencies is contained in one place and is written in simple language. It also contains a range of transactions which allows citizens to do business with Government at a time that suits them.
3. News Media enquiries to DSD Information Office on 028 9082 9496. Out of office please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699715440 and your call will be returned.