Free financial advice service, Money Talk Team, helps low income households save more than £6 million

Scots are being advised of a service that can help them with money matters.

Citizens Advice Scotland has welcomed a new Scottish Government national advertising campaign which raises awareness of the Money Talk Team.

The campaign, supported by advertising, PR and social media, will run until mid-September, encouraging people to call the helpline.

It will also take to the streets with a national information roadshow from 4 September, visiting towns and cities across the country.

Money Talk Team - operated by Citizens Advice Scotland - offers one-stop, personalised advice on dealing with debt and ways to reduce household bills.

In the last nine months, the service has helped a total of 3,198 people be better off by more than £6 million. This has meant low income households have benefitted by more than £1,850 on average.

A total of nearly 8,000 people have accessed the service.

The service has been supported by Scottish Government funding of £3.3 million over the course of two years.

Derek Mitchell, Citizens Advice Scotland chief executive, said: “With a footprint in every community across Scotland and 80 years of experience of delivering confidential and impartial advice, the Citizens Advice network in Scotland is uniquely placed to deliver the Money Talk Team service.

“People should be claiming what they are due. That’s how the system works; we all pay in and get support when we need it."

Aileen Campbell, communities secretary, said: “The Money Talk Team is making a huge difference to the thousands of families that have already taken advantage of this free service.

“The friendly, experienced advisers talk callers through the options available, letting them know exactly what they are entitled to and helping them save money."

Money Talk Team is the new name for Financial Health Check, which started in 2018 and is delivered by Citizens Advice Scotland.