New Citizens Advice Greater Manchester partnership launches

Gillian Guy, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice with Alison Haynes, the new Chair of Citizens Advice Greater Manchester

Rochdale’s Citizens Advice Bureau has joined forces with services across Greater Manchester to form a new partnership that is aiming to support thousands of people and deliver millions of pounds in saving to the NHS and other public services across the region.

The newly formed Citizens Advice Greater Manchester group has been created following a partnership agreement between local Citizens Advice services working in communities across the 10 Greater Manchester boroughs.

Local Citizens Advice services already provide free, independent advice to people across the region on a range of issues such as housing, workplace rights and debt.

Citizens Advice Greater Manchester will use the combined expertise and resources of local teams to tackle some of the region’s biggest challenges in areas such as health, employment and crime to help people live more independent lives.

Last year Citizens Advice services across the region supported around 100,000 people, saving a combined total of more than £16million for NHS, housing, local authorities and other public services across Greater Manchester.

Alison Haynes, who was Tax Partner at Deloitte for 17 years and spent eight years working out of the firm’s Manchester office, has been named chairwoman of the new group.

Ms Haynes left Deloitte in 2015 to pursue a portfolio career and is currently Director of Tax at Everton Football Club, non-executive director at Greater Manchester nursery group Kids Allowed, and chairwoman of Chatsworth Futures, a further education college in Salford.

She said: “Citizens Advice has served the people of Greater Manchester for 75 years.

“As the city region embarks on one of the most exciting periods in its history, we have been making sure we are ready to support those living in its communities long into the future.

“The new partnership will ensure that we are able to deliver the kind of services and campaigns that will play a role in helping turn the city region into one of the best in the world.”

Citizens Advice Greater Manchester has already been selected to deliver the Greater
Manchester Police and Crime Commissioner’s Legal and Financial Advice for Vulnerable Victims of Crime pilot programme.

The scheme ensures that vulnerable victims of crime across Greater Manchester have access to specialist advice and support on benefits, hosing, immigration and debt issues.

Gillian Guy, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice, said: “Citizens Advice services in Greater Manchester are often the first port of call for people trying to solve their problems.

“By working together, local Citizens Advice services aim to help more people, and will be able to spot new issues emerging that impact on the lives of people in Greater Manchester.

“Their expertise and insight means that the Greater Manchester Citizens Advice partnership can play an essential role in supporting local people as plans are made for the city’s future.”