A NEW service aimed at people who are struggling to during the recession or with the mounting cost of Christmas has been set up by a district council.

The landlord service at Richmondshire District Council has teamed up with Richmondshire Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) and the North Yorkshire Credit Union to look at ways of helping tenants.

The service, called Money Active, has been set up to give people the skills, knowledge and confidence to make financial choices that are right for them and help them avoid crisis.

Among the help on offer is sessions on money management, understanding credit, banking, savings and how to deal with debt.

All of the sessions are aimed at helping to reduce risky borrowing and the use of doorstop lenders.

The North Yorkshire Credit Union is also offering easy access to affordable credit, current accounts and savings accounts, either online at www.nycu.org, or at special drop-in service at Richmond Library on Mondays, between 2-4pm, Catterick Library on Thursdays, between 2-4pm, and at Hawes fortnightly on Tuesdays, between 10am and 1pm.

Councillor Peter Wood, member for housing, said: “We are trying to help not only our tenants but also the general public in these trying times.

“By working with our partner agencies we hope to prevent people from risky borrowing and avoid the quick fix door step lender which ultimately adds to the problem”.

For more details on Money Active contact Richmondshire CAB on 01748-823862. For details on the Credit Union contact Robin Marshall on 0771-213-1315.