HELP is on the way for struggling residents of North East Lincolnshire.
A £350,000 grant will create a new advice hub, provided by Grimsby Citizens' Advice Bureau (CAB), the Community Advice Centre and Harbour Place.
The new centre will be another boost to the regeneration of Freeman Street.
The new service, called the Community Advice Network, will be located in the former Rayners electrical store and will offer information and advice from financial and debt management, to housing and employment.
The three organisations will be staying in their current separate locations, with the new addition becoming a central hub for advice.
As reported, the revamp of Freeman Street, which it is hoped will breathe new life into the once-thriving street, has been approved for its first phase. The revamp will see everything from the road to the shop fronts being updated and improved.
Chief executive of the Grimsby CAB Tony Gaskins said the new centre and the funding will help reach people in need.
"The new centre will allow us to provide all of our services out of one building.
"With Harbour Place we can now reach people who may not have come forward to us for the help they need. The new centre will create eight new positions, including a special debt welfare officer, who will be on hand to help and advise on everything from housing problems to debt management and legal advice.
"The new centre will be a real boost to the region by creating employment and helping people secure a stronger financial position.
"By helping people with their finances, we could see an increase in the local economy.
"The credit culture in the past few years has seen a lot of people fall into debt because it is very easy.
"Anyone from any walk of life could be in need of help through no fault of their own.
"We don't judge you or why you are here.
"We are a free service here to help you whatever your circumstances."
The grant has been awarded by The Big Lottery Fund and the Cabinet office, and will be paid over two years. The centre will have to find the funds to sustain services beyond then.
Ann Marie Webster, service manager for Community Advice Centre, said: "With welfare reforms, lack of jobs and other pressures, people could really struggle.
"We provide very similar services to the CAB and we have worked together for some time. This new centre will enable us to provide effective advice provisions.
"The problem when people are struggling is they often don't know where to turn, or even if they can get any help at all. We can help them see the light in their problems and I have often had people say that after just their first meeting they have gone home and had the first good night's sleep in a long time.
"What we see when people have problems, whether financial or not, is they can become stressed and depressed, which can have a negative effect on their relationships and sometimes lead to drink and drug problems.
"We hope to provide advice and support to prevent people going down that road. But we can only help people who come to us."
