Member Article

Teaming up to improve digital skills

A partnership has been created between Citizens Advice Darlington and a charity that aims to reduce the scale of digital exclusion across the UK.

The not-for-profit Tinder Foundation has secured funding for a three-year HMRC programme to provide advice surgeries in the country’s most deprived areas. The project aims to reach 10,500 vulnerable and socially marginalised people in the first year.

Citizens Advice Darlington has been selected to deliver the sessions in the Darlington area and is helping to support people who need to access HMRC services including PAYE, Child Tax Credits, Child Benefit and Working Tax Credits.

Neeraj Sharma, chief executive of Citizens Advice Darlington, said: “Increasingly, elements of HMRC services are becoming accessible online and the www.gov.uk website is an information source for various people when it comes to understanding their own entitlements to benefits, or their obligations in terms of tax or National Insurance.”

Citizens Advice Darlington can also provide guidance on how to challenge HMRC decisions and help individuals to understand the end of year forms (tax return).

Karen Matthews, who is leading the project for Citizens Advice Darlington, said: “We can help clients who might need advice about the www.gov.uk website or who might need to manage their tax or benefits themselves. We can help people improve their digital skills and enable them to become more confident users of HMRC’s services and help them understand their rights and responsibilities.”

To find out more about the free service, telephone Citizens Advice Darlington on 01325 256999.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Citizens Advice Darlington .