Community advice project launched to help residents

A new community advice service has been launched in North Northamptonshire, funded by the National Lottery Community Fund.

Northants Thrive will be offering advice to local residents about housing, benefits, debt and employment from next month.

Managed by Accommodation Concern, the team will at first focus on three areas; the Hemmingwell estate in Wellingborough, the Avondale and Grange estates in Kettering, and the Kingswood estate in Corby.

"Northants Thrive will allow us to take advice directly into communities," said John Perry, the charity's managing director.

"Helping people get support earlier, closer to home and before difficulties become a crisis."

Accommodation Concern has received £400,016 to deliver the project over the next four years.

It will be providing support in community venues, outreach projects and via home visits to ensure people can receive the help they need close to home.

Erica Knight, executive director at Accommodation Concern, added: "This project is about more than advice appointments.

"It is about building trust, listening to local residents and working with partners so that people feel more connected, more confident and better able to take the next practical step."

In the first couple of years the project will focus on early support and advice, and then in years three and four local community champions will receive training to strengthen the service.

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