By Janet Malsch and Lee Lazenby, The Open Arms Team
At an Open Arms session we had a visitor, whose first language was not English, who had found herself in a precarious situation. With her husband hospitalised for long-term medical treatment, she became the sole breadwinner for her family. However, the burden proved overwhelming, leading the family into a spiral of debt that culminated in a court order. The imminent arrival of debt collectors added further stress to an already dire situation.
Navigating the complexities of paperwork and legal proceedings proved challenging for the client, compounded by language barriers. Recognizing the urgency of her situation, our dedicated Citizen Advice team sprang into action. They swiftly connected with their debt team and arranged for the client to be seen on the same day, providing her with the support and guidance she urgently needed.
Understanding the importance of effective communication, Citizens Advice offers free translation services to ensure that language barriers do not hinder access to crucial assistance. With the assistance of a translator, the client was able to fully comprehend her options and navigate the intricate legal processes with confidence.
The outcome was nothing short of remarkable. Through the collaborative efforts of Open Arms and the invaluable support of Citizen Advice, the client was empowered to address her family’s financial crisis head-on.