All aboard the ‘benefits bus’!

Manchester City Council and Stepping Stones have joined forces for a whistle stop tour of Manchester, providing advice for residents with concerns over employment and benefits issues.

Essential guidance regarding applications for Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit, free school meals and secondary-school clothing grants will be given by advisers from the council while advice will also be available for those hoping to get back into work from Stepping Stones' employment advisers.

The Council's Executive Member for Finance and Human Resources, Councillor Bernard Priest, said: "By taking the benefits service out into the community we aim to increase benefit take-up by local residents.

"Sadly, many people aren't claiming housing or council tax benefits and they are missing out on education grants. Either they don't know they're entitled to them or they're put off by the prospect of red tape and form filling. We want to ensure that they don't lose out."

The purpose-built 'benefits bus' is fully equipped with office facilities, including private interview rooms. In early August a mobile advice centre will be pulling up at the following locations in the city:

• Monday 4 August - Morrisons, Chorlton, 9.30 am - 3.30 pm
• Tuesday 5 August and Friday 8 August - Harpurhey Market, 9.30 am - 3.30 pm
• Wednesday 6 August - Asda, Eastlands, 9.30am - 3.30pm
• Thursday 7 August - Asda, Hulme, 9.30 am - 3.30 pm

The project is a joint two-year initiative by the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA) with 12 authorities having the opportunity to make use of the bus for up to four weeks a year.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Maggie Doyle/Steven Day, Press Office, tel: 0161 234 4223/4610