A NEW and innovative network of advice set to unlock a raft of help and support for struggling West Somerset families is on the verge of being launched thanks to a bumper National Lottery windfall.

The West Somerset Advice Bureau has secured a two-year funding package worth almost £206,000 to improve and widen access to advice through a partnership with five other organisations.

The shared resources of the WSAB and mental health charity MIND, Somerset Care and Repair - a home improvement agency for elderly, disabled and vulnerable people - West Somerset Council, Magna Housing Association and Wessex Resolutions, a community interest company offering debt advice, will come together to form West Somerset CAN - Community Advice Network.

The initiative has secured one of 226 funding awards announced this week from the Big Lottery Fund (BIG) Advice Service Transition Fund.

It will see the delivery of a series of new projects from increased outreach services and the creation of information hubs to a money advice programme and a joint promotion to increase the take-up of benefits.

But at its heart will be the aim of unlocking the knowledge and expertise of all the partner organisations and ensuring that contact with any one of them opens the door to vital help and support.

WSAB manager Georgie Reynolds said the initiative was a real step forward in increasing access to advice for people across what was a very isolated and rural district.

"We are not always the first organisation that people come to because they may not know about us," she said.

"That is why we will be training people in libraries, children's centres and other places to be able to signpost people to the help they need."

The aim is build a community network of volunteers and organisations who will know what advice and services are available and will be able to spot the signs of someone needing help.

The WSAB, which was set up 35 years ago, currently operates from a Minehead base with outreach services in Williton, Watchet and Dulverton.

But the new funding will allow it to set up additional 'pop-up' outreach posts in many more villages to increase the opportunity for face to face advice.

Improved telephone and digital advice with specialist advisors to provide support in more complex cases is also planned.

And there will be more budgeting sessions, particularly for residents with part-time or seasonal fluctuating incomes, designed to help tackle the growing problem of debt in the district.

Finally, the new network will aim to increase the take-up of benefits with the help of the district council's benefit and housing team.

It also wants to remove the stigma often attached to benefit claimants to put more money in people's pockets which, in turn, will increase spending power and boost both local shops and the wider local economy.

"We couldn't possibly deliver this on our own so although the funding package has been awarded to the WSAB, the money will be filtered down to the partner organisations," said Georgie.

"There is a huge need and demand for advice and help in West Somerset - from April 2012 to April 2013 alone we handled more than £1 million of debt.

"Working together we cannot only pool resources but we also intend to pool our statistics so that we can build a better picture of what is going on in the district and increase our ability to bid for further funding in the future.

"It's a really exciting development and we are delighted to have been awarded this funding.

"This will take the whole issue of advice to a new level."

The West Somerset cash is part of a multi-million pound support package from the BIG programme, with half the funding coming from the Cabinet Office.

BIG director Dharmendra Kanani said getting the right advice at the right time could be a lifeline for people and communities most in need.

"Current services are struggling to keep up with increasing demand and the greater complexity in the types of problems people are facing," he said.

"Times are tough for advice providers and for people at the thin end of the wedge.

"This is a chance to invest in a much-needed transformation of services so that they can adapt, respond to need and survive."

The WSAB currently employs 11 part-time paid staff working a total of 200 hours a week, helped by 35 trained volunteers.

Two additional part-time posts will be created as a result of the new funding.

In the past year alone staff and volunteers have dealt with 2,085 clients and handled 2,336 enquiries.

But the number of contacts made by clients with the bureau has risen from 4,748 in 2011/12 to almost 5,000 in 2012/13, reflecting the increasing complexity of issues.

Although the overall level of debt has fallen in the past year, the amount of 'priority' debt - rent and Council Tax arrears and utility bills - has risen from £60,544 in 2011/12 to £76,153.

The new funding package was welcomed with a round of applause by West Somerset Council at its annual meeting on Wednesday.

Cllr Dave Westcott, lead member for community, congratulated WSAB leaders for securing the cash.

"This is exactly what is needed in West Somerset, especially as lots of funding adjustments are being made at all levels of Government at the moment."

But opposition leader Cllr Ian Melhuish said: "I like to end these things on a flippant note.

"I was aware that some money had come from somewhere because the advice bureau has put in an application for some new windows."