A new advice service for people in the Braintree district has been launched with a £150,000 lottery grant.

The Braintree Advice Services Partnership (Basp) was created to relieve pressure o n services such as the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB).

Funding was awarded to the Rural Community Council of Essex, which then went into partnership with Braintree , Halstead and Witham CAB, Mid Essex Mind, Greenfields Community Housing, Braintree Council and Age UK Essex.

Outreach development officer Linda Amos-Flanagan said: “We are bringing together all the volunteer organisations and charities under one big unit.

“We are all linked and can follow every customer’s journey – it’s bringing everyone together to help people who need it.

“If anyone needs advice on housing, benefits or employment issues we are an alternative to Citizens Advice.

“Because they are so overwhelmed, we want to make sure people in the community can still get access to the services they need.”

Mrs Amos-Flanagan said the service was launched on February 25 and had already seen a good take-up .

She said: “With the funding we have developed a website, we have telephone advisors, there is an Apple app and we are developing an app for Android devices .

“We have a budgeting device on the site so people can work out where they might be spending too much.

“One individual we helped was in debt with bailiffs threatening to come in two days.

“He contacted us and we referred him to a charity that supports people with debt issues. He phoned back a few days later to say thanks and he could now sleep at night.

“We are also helping out a few homeless people at the moment.

"We want to let people know the service is there for them.”

For more details, visit braintreeasp.org.uk or call 0333 777 8087.