Falkirk Council and the Citizens Advice Bureau in Grangemouth are joining forces in a month long campaign during March to encourage local people to seek debt and money advice.

The ‘We Don’t Bite’ campaign will initially be launched in the Grangemouth area which has a well established range of council offices, the Grangemouth CAB, Falkirk & District Credit Union and other organisations that can provide free advice and support.

Council Leader Craig Martin said: “We are aware of a growing number of local people who are struggling to make ends meet and who have been affected by welfare reform changes which have led to benefit reductions. “We are working closely with our partners in the Citizens Advice Bureau to help people avoid getting into debt but we also want to help those who may already have debts mounting which can be a real source of worry and distress. “The campaign aims to raise awareness of the services available locally and will help get the right advice to the right people in the right way and at the right time.”

Figures produced by the national Money Advice Service state that the right kind of debt advice has worked for 9 out of 10 people with significant levels of debt.

The Council’s Money Advice team and the Grangemouth CAB have already helped over 300 local people in Grangemouth deal with and reduce their debt.

Falkirk Council provides a free and impartial money advice service as do the three local Citizens Advice Bureau in Denny, Falkirk and Grangemouth.

For further information, please visit Falkirk Council’s website or for debt and money advice call: 01324 506735, Grangemouth’s CAB on 01324 483467. All advice is free, confidential, impartial and independent.