Enforcement sector partnership provides support hub for vulnerable people

Enforcement sector partnership provides support hub for vulnerable people.

Enforcement Agents will be at the forefront of ensuring the most vulnerable people in the UK get expert help, as this week CIVEA teams up with the National Support Network.

This means Enforcement Agents and contact centre staff working for CIVEA member firms collecting unpaid fines and taxes on behalf of local authorities and agencies, will signpost to the National Support Network (NSN) helplines and support services.

The dedicated CIVEA-NSN hub can be found here: https://civea.nsn.org.uk/

While Enforcement Agents already work extensively with debt advice services, the link with the NSN provides a wider range of help for people facing multiple life challenges.

Access to the CIVEA-NSN hub is free and anonymous, and allows individuals to access services from a Google-style search bar or choose from hundreds of suggested categories or life situations, such as bereavement, divorce, redundancy, and health conditions.

Russell Hamblin-Boone, Chief Executive Officer of CIVEA, explained those who fall into arrears with council tax, child maintenance, parking and other fines/payments often have complex vulnerabilities beyond their debt problems.

An Enforcement Agent will work with the debtor to reach a solution to the paying of the arrears, whether this is a payment plan or signposting towards help organisations.

The National Support Network will an additional tool to help people with welfare needs.

Russell said: “The money raised by councils is vital in providing the essential public services we all rely on, such as libraries, swimming pools, parks, schools, community halls and leisure centres.”

He added: “Enforcement agents work with people to resolve their debts and manage their financial situation. They are often the first people to visit someone at home and identify them as vulnerable.

“Being able to recommend the NSN hub will make calls and visits even more useful and agents and call centre staff will be able to offer assurances that help is available.”

Not only will Enforcement Agents in the field proactively promote the NSN hub; anyone phoning into CIVEA’s customer services line will also be told about it.

The National Support Network was set up by Cat Divers in 2023. Last year the hub connected more than 100,000 people to support services across 1,000 areas identified as life problems to the UK population.

The network helps companies connect people in crisis to tailored and trusted support services covering areas like divorce, bereavement, health, money, work, family and housing, amongst many others. Visitors to the site can either call that organisation directly from the hub or visit the individual website.

Cat explained she set the hub up after finding she herself struggled to find information on help services. Today the NSN employs a team of researchers to ensure all the contacts signposted by the hub are up-to-date and relevant.

Cat Divers, Founder and CEO of the National Support Network, said: “We often find that if a person has one problem, they have several going on at the same time. The National Support Network was created to make finding that help as simple as possible, easing the worries people have, saving them time and money and reducing stress at the same time.

“Using the NSN hub is free to everyone and anonymous. People tell us it’s easier than a Google search as it doesn’t lead them down blind alleys and dead links, which makes the task all the more frustrating.

“We are delighted to team up with CIVEA and I’m sure those affected by a debt situation will find the hub a great benefit.”

To contact the National Support Network directly, please email info@nsn.org.uk

ENDS