South Hams residents are being urged to seek help with money worries before financial problems become a crisis as part of a new autumn campaign.

Citizens Advice South Hams and South Hams District Council are working together to raise awareness of support available to households facing financial uncertainty.

The campaign highlights the Crisis and Resilience Fund, which supports low-income households facing unexpected financial shocks.

This can include a sudden loss of income, an urgent essential expense or the breakdown of an essential household item such as a fridge or cooker.

The council can also provide Crisis and Resilience Fund Housing Payments to people receiving Housing Benefit or the housing costs element of Universal Credit who are struggling with housing-related expenses.

The payments provide additional support to eligible households to help them remain in their homes and meet essential housing costs.

Residents can also receive advice aimed at improving their finances in the longer term.

This includes checks to see whether they are entitled to benefits, help managing Council Tax arrears through affordable repayment plans, and referrals to specialist organisations for debt, energy, housing and budgeting advice.

South Hams District Council has also provided funding for two additional Citizens Advice South Hams caseworkers.

The additional staff will strengthen outreach support across the district and help more people access advice closer to home.

Janie Moor, chief executive of Citizens Advice South Hams, said the organisation expected household costs to increase as winter approaches.

“We know how hard times are for people at the moment and the rise in the energy price cap in October means as colder weather approaches household costs are set to rise yet again,” she said.

“That’s why seeking free and independent help and advice is so important.”

Councillor Nicky Hopwood, South Hams District Council's executive member for service quality, said an unexpected bill or change in circumstances could quickly cause financial problems.

“As costs escalate, it only takes one unexpected bill, a change in income or growing arrears to cause a problem with finances, and this can be very stressful,” she said.

“The most important message is that residents do not have to face this alone.”

Ms Moor said some people could find it difficult to ask for help, particularly if they had previously been able to manage their finances without assistance.

She said: “We know for some people it’s difficult to reach out and seek help, especially if you’ve been used to successfully managing your affairs, but we can all hit difficulties at any moment in our lives.”

She added that Citizens Advice advisers were “non-judgmental” and that its advice was free, quality assured and confidential.

Councillor Hopwood urged anyone worried about their finances to seek support before problems became unmanageable.

Citizens Advice South Hams can be contacted on 0808 278 7948 from Monday to Friday. Its website also provides details of drop-in venues, times and dates.

Residents can contact the council's Crisis and Resilience Fund team by email here: [email protected] or find information about the scheme on the South Hams District Council website.