Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has confirmed the extension of a debt advice initiative into 2026/27, allocating approximately £449,000 to sustain locally delivered financial support across Northern Ireland’s 11 council areas.
The Integrated Advice Partnership Fund, launched in November 2024 with £1.7 million, has delivered strong interim results in expanding access to regulated debt advice through community-based partnerships. The extension will preserve referral pathways and local capacity built over the past year, while allowing councils to refine their approaches to reach more people facing financial difficulty.
Strong Results Drive Extension Decision
The Fund was designed to complement the existing NI Debt Advice Service delivered by Advice NI, creating additional pathways for people to access support in familiar community settings. Rather than centralising services, the Department for Communities distributed funding to local councils, which commissioned collaborative projects tailored to their specific areas.
Interim review data shows the approach has resonated with those seeking help:
- 96% of those surveyed were satisfied with the advice received in partnership settings
- 92% reported feeling more in control of their finances after receiving support
- 95% noted improved mental health or emotional wellbeing
- 95% expressed satisfaction with referral processes into the service
- 81 training sessions were delivered to 455 staff, strengthening local capacity
Delivery partners include advice providers, housing support groups, GPs, schools, churches, food banks and specialist charities, creating a network of touch points where people can access advice before crises deepen.
Minister Praises Community Innovation
Speaking about the decision to extend the programme, Minister Lyons said:
“When I launched the Integrated Advice Partnership Fund, my priority was to make sure that people across Northern Ireland could access debt advice earlier, more easily, and in places where they already feel supported.
“The early results clearly show that this approach is working. Councils and community partners have demonstrated real innovation, strengthening local networks and helping people get the advice they need. I am pleased to confirm that, because of this success, I will extend the Fund into 2026/27, which will enable this vital work to continue.”
Local Impact on the Ground
Mid & East Antrim Community Advice Service is among the organisations that have received funding through their local council. Julia Cleeland, Operations Director, explained how the investment has transformed their capacity to respond to rising need:
“This fund has been vital in strengthening our debt advice service, enabling us to meet clients exactly where they are in their financial journey. It has given people the time, space and specialist support they need to navigate difficult circumstances without pressure. The investment has also allowed us to employ a dedicated Financial Wellbeing Co-ordinator who delivers outreach, provides talks across the community, and raises awareness of the support available. Demand for debt support continues to rise across Mid & East Antrim, and this funding has made a meaningful and tangible difference to individuals and families across our community.”
Funding Context and Sustainability Questions
The Fund operates alongside the main NI Debt Advice Service, funded through a ring-fenced levy on the financial services sector collected by HM Treasury. While the £1.7 million initial allocation and £449,000 extension provide immediate relief, departmental screening documents confirm this funding is non-recurrent, derived from a historical miscalculation of the debt levy and additional HMRC allocations rather than baseline budgets.
This temporary nature raises questions about long-term sustainability, particularly given escalating demand for debt advice across Northern Ireland. Recent data indicates that average personal debt burdens have risen significantly, with Advice NI reporting average debts exceeding £11,000 per client in 2024/25. Personal insolvency statistics show a 48% year-on-year increase in December 2025, while buy-now-pay-later debt dependency has surged by 61%.
The extension into 2026/27 offers continuity, but the Department has not indicated whether this community-based delivery model will secure permanent funding beyond that date, or how the success of these local partnerships might influence future commissioning strategies.
Questions for Stakeholders
- How will the Department ensure the sustainability of these local partnerships when the non-recurrent funding stream concludes?
- Given the documented rise in insolvencies and average debt levels, is the current scale of investment sufficient to meet demand across all 11 council areas?
- Will the demonstrated success of this fund influence the long-term structure of debt advice commissioning in Northern Ireland, potentially shifting more resources toward localised, partnership-based models?
- How can the Department and councils measure the long-term financial resilience of clients helped through this fund, beyond the immediate satisfaction and wellbeing metrics already captured?
Accessing Support
The extended Fund will continue to support collaborative projects between councils and community organisations through 2026/27. For immediate debt advice, individuals can contact the Advice NI Debt & Money Service Freephone helpline on 0800 915 4604 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm) or visit the Advice NI website for online resources including budget planners and energy comparison tools.