News Articles

People on the lowest incomes – both in and out of work – have endured a decade of austerity; with freezes and cuts to social security benefits and in-work support; hollowing out support, undermining resilience and ability to cope with adversity.

Advice NI responds to plans by the UK Government to begin the managed migration of millions of people in Great Britain off legacy benefits and on to Universal Credit.

We welcome the announcement from Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey that the end date for bedroom tax mitigations has been removed.

Leading advice charity; Advice NI Head of Policy, Kevin Higgins and Professor Eileen Evason CBE is urgently calling on the NI Executive to extend Welfare Mitigations to alleviate further hardship in NI.

The scheme offers financial support to individuals in Northern Ireland facing crisis situations.

The report has taken time and gone into meticulous detail; and ultimately which talks about systemic maladministration on the part of the Department & Capita, putting PIP claimants at systemic disadvantage in terms of the approach taken to how further evidence is obtained.

Advice NI publish a comprehensive policy paper aimed at improving various fundamental problems affecting Universal Credit claimants
 

The Welfare Reform Group has made a number of recommendations designed to better protect social security claimants who are moving to Universal Credit.

The Department for Communities has put additional support in place to assist Post Office card account and HM Government Payment Exception Service customers who are unable to access their benefit or pension payments during the Coronavirus pandemic. 

We are delighted to launch our latest training brochure which is packed with lots of new and exciting courses and training programmes. 

Advice NI offers formal and non-formal training for those working in the advice sector, community & voluntary sector, local authorities, legal & financial institutions who wish to develop their skillset.

Our courses include nationally and locally accredited qualifications as well as continued professional development (CPD) training.

We offer training in the following areas: 

• Advice and Guidance
• Legal Advice and Information
• Legal Advice Support
• Customer Service
• Business & Administration  
• Independent Advocacy
• Debt & Money Advice (Wiseradviser)
• Welfare Reform
• State Pension
• Child Maintenance
• Advising and Supporting Older People
• Age Awareness
• Case Recording (Advice Pro)
• Social Policy
• Dealing with Challenging Clients
• Lone Working
• Tendering & Procurement
• Trailing & Presentation Delivery
• Training Assessment & Quality Assurance (TAQA) 

We can also develop bespoke training to meet your organisational needs.

Click below for a full copy of the Advice NI training brochure, which will outline all training programmes, costs, accreditation options, dates & booking procedures.

Advice NI Training Brochure July – December 2015

If you would like further information on any of our courses, fee’s or how to book contact a member of our training team on 028 9064 5919 or e-mail training@adviceni.net.

Aimed at older peoples’ groups Northern Ireland wide, ‘Managing Your Money Better’ talks are funded by Comic Relief and delivered by Outreach Worker John Bradbury.

The talks are free, last about 45 minutes and cover a range of topics including: budgeting, maximising your income, dealing with debt, saving, borrowing and credit and avoiding scams.

‘I also give people some additional information, benefits information and contact details within Advice NI for further free advice.

‘So far, we have reached over 1,000 people with almost half living in rural isolated areas. The talks are aimed primarily at people over sixty and over 350 people reached are aged over 75.

‘I usually find people are most interested  in benefits uptake and avoiding scams. As an organisation, we are delighted to provide as much help and information as possible,’ added John.

So far, community groups, womens’ groups and churches have been amongst the venues visited.

More talks are planned for late Autumn to Winter. If you would like a contact, please contact John – ‘john@adviceni.net.’