Local State MP Adam Marshall pictured at the Moree Salvation Army Family Store with Volunteer Manager Jill Spilsbury.
MEMBER for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall has today announced almost $60,000 in State Government funding for the Moree Salvation Army to run its important financial counselling service over the next three years.
Mr Marshall said this was very good news for those in the Moree community who were struggling financially and would benefit greatly from some professional advice.
“Moneycare is a free financial counselling service funded by the NSW Fair Trading and run by the Salvation Army,” Mr Marshall said.
“The counsellors, who are based in Tamworth, visit Moree on a regular basis and provide a confidential service to anyone in the community experiencing hardship due to financial difficulties or a crisis.
“It’s an excellent service and can make a huge difference to people’s lives to have that helping hand when they’ve reached the end of their tether, financially, emotionally and physically.
“The counsellors can assist by providing their clients with payment options and information and advocate on their behalf with their creditors. This can be with utility companies, banks, insurance companies, other small businesses, in fact anyone who supplies credit to their client.
“They can help with basic budgeting, organising payment plans, moratoriums, restructuring loans, accessing their superannuation and bankruptcy.”
Salvation Army Financial Counsellor Sandy Avis said the services wasn’t just for one sector of the community, they were there to help people from all walks of life.
“It’s often the unforeseen set of circumstance such as redundancy or pregnancy that can trigger the call for help and combined with poor money management, it could be a recipe for disaster.” Ms Avis said.
“We don’t just deal with welfare clients, we help those in small businesses, farmers struggling with drought, the young 16 year old with phone debt; the couple who have just found out that the husband is to be made redundant; the widow who has never been responsible for the finances, the small business that has run into trouble.
“Whoever is in need of financial counselling, we are there to help, it’s free and confidential.”