South Lanarkshire money adviser receives national award

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A council worker from South Lanarkshire has scooped up a national award for tackling fuel poverty.Money adviser Joe McMonagle, who is head of South Lanarkshire Council’s Money Matters Advice Service, was honoured at Energy Action Scotland’s annual Fuel Poverty Heroes Awards.

The award was presented at their annual conference in Glasgow.The Money Matters team offers free and confidential support that helps locals get the benefits they are entitled to and help them manage any debt.The Lanarkshire Live app is available to download now.

Get all the news from your area – as well as features, entertainment, sport and the latest on Lanarkshire’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic – straight to your fingertips, 24/7.The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories, and allows you to customise your page to the sections that matter most to you.Head to the App Store and never miss a beat in Lanarkshire - iOS - Android In the past financial year, the service has dealt with £410,768 of debt of which £127,124 they managed to get written off.The team also helps with energy arrears, gas and electricity top up vouchers, debt advice including mortgage and rent arrears and dealing with creditors, benefits advice and overall budgeting.Energy Action Scotland’s chief executive, Frazer Scott, said: “Joe and his team are to be commended for keeping the service going throughout the period of the pandemic when demand on the service soared."This demand has not reduced but increased, as we have seen unprecedented energy rises and general cost of living increases.“Through the efforts of Joe and his team some of the most vulnerable people in South Lanarkshire have been protected from the worst of these increases.”Energy