Research by charity Turn2us shows that people are six times more likely to increase their borrowing from banks than seek help from charities, if they were to face financial difficulties.

If they lost their income or were unable to pay their bills, 25 per cent of respondents said they would borrow from banks and 14 per cent would use credit cards. By comparison, only 4 per cent said they would think to seek help from a charitable source, despite the existence of over 3,300 charities that give grants to people in financial need. Less than half of those surveyed would access welfare benefits and around one in eight said there wasn’t anywhere they would be able to get money from.

In response, Turn2us has launched an expanded online service that helps people struggling with money to maximise their income through benefits, tax credits and grants. The website contains new comprehensive information and tools, produced by experts.

Turn2us is urging intermediaries such as local authority advisers and support services, to sign up to use the service and to signpost it to anyone they come across experiencing money problems.

Information about help from charities. www.turn2us.org.uk

Debt consolidation help.
http://www.debtwatchdog.com/