Why work with CMA?

CMA's primary objective is to provide a proven framework and practical help for its affiliate centres. We have helped over ninety independent centres establish money advice services for their local communities, from small centres open a few hours a week, manned by volunteers, to larger organisations with paid staff, open office hours - the CMA model is applicable to almost any group wanting to offer a free-to-the-client money advice service.

We would like to thank the following centres for providing their reflections on working with CMA.

Testimonials

CMA appealed to our Church because they were so flexible as to how we operated. There were certain protocols to be followed, but that's to be expected when offering a professional service. The way in which CMA supported us with downloadable policies that could be adapted to our situation, and advice about how to get launched - covering all the legal aspects - was truly wonderful. In fact, this attitude has continued throughout our history with CMA, and to us it feels like we are part of a family of centres. Additionally, there's always support and advice on hand through the regional network, and more recently through the Adviceline, so we don't feel on our own in handling what are some pretty tricky cases!

John Bament, Hope House Debt Advice Service, Christchurch, Dorset

The Jubilee Debt Advice Centre in Sheffield has been established for a little over seven years and has been a member of CMA for over six years.  I have been the Centre's manager for eighteen months.  The role can be quite daunting: especially when the client base is large and growing steadily.  Thank goodness for CMA.  Not once have I been concerned about contacting them even if the problem is small.  The support is fantastic - pitched just right. Nothing feels burdensome and I have come to view CMA not as an organisation but as a valued friend.

Susie Bradshaw, Jubilee Debt Advice Centre, Sheffield

In 2002 a member of our church, St Paul’s Hammersmith (SPH), met Heather Keates, Founder of CMA, and through her recognised the widening need for freely given professional debt advice; and so it was decided to form what is now the St Paul’s Debt Advice Centre (SPDAC) under the CMA umbrella. Twelve members of the congregation volunteered to help and we were privileged to be trained under Heather. Following that we plunged in!  Apart from personnel, the obvious prerequisites were for funding and the provision of all amenities covering office space, computers, and access to all normal office equipment. SPH generously supplied all these needs and also undertook to meet all our recurrent direct and indirect costs, which since 2006 have included the salary of one part time team member.

Over time we have been able to establish useful links not only with our local authority but also with Job Centres, GP surgeries, neighbouring churches and charities such as the Samaritans. SPDAC holds one weekly evening clinic by appointment; our Advisers gather all necessary data covering the client’s financial affairs, which are then passed on to the appointed Case Manager who will proceed to negotiate with creditors. We have never had a waiting list.

Our CMA link is obviously valuable if and when we need guidance on unusual issues but thanks to our comprehensive CMA training that seldom arises. SPDAC has handled some 250 client cases involving aggregate debts approaching £4 million. In 92% of cases we have been able to resolve matters successfully to the relief and satisfaction of our clients.

St Paul’s Debt Advice Centre Hammersmith

A news article and a television report about a local man committing suicide over a debt of £5000 prompted some in our church to ask some questions. What would make a healthy 23 year old man feel he needed to take this kind of action over £5000? How did he arrive at this point, what kind of pressure was he under, why did he feel there was no one to turn to? How could we make a difference to other people like him?

That’s how God led us at the Bridge Church to set up The Bridge Money Advice Centre here in St. Ives, Cambridgeshire. With the minimum of research, it soon became apparent that there was a dire need for good, sound, professional, free of charge debt advice in our town. But how?

We were soon put in touch with Community Money Advice, who have helped and supported us, not only in leading us by the hand at every step of the way in setting up TBMAC, but by still continuing to help and support us five years later. We now serve over 200 people in our local area with debt advice at one level or another. From a personal point of view, debt advice is one of the hardest, yet most rewarding jobs I have ever done. None of this would have been possible without the input, advice, encouragement and professional support of Community Money Advice.

Barry Chiesa Bridge Money Advice Centre, St. Ives, Cambridgeshire