Lewisham Council has extended its Advice Services Grant through 2029, ensuring continued support for residents seeking guidance on a range of issues.

The decision was made at a Mayor and Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, 22 October 2025, where Councillor Sakina Sheikh, Cabinet Member for Culture, Communities, Libraries and Sports, moved the report. The extension aims to maintain service continuity as part of a broader financial resilience strategy. The Advice Services Grant Extension - 2026-29 - Report details the council's commitment to providing accessible and tailored advice services.

It sort of says what it does on the tin, really, Councillor Sheikh said, explaining that the move follows a reconfiguration in July, which sought to transition advice services from a main grant programme to a more ring-fenced, procured service that could be tailored and more specific. This reconfiguration aimed to create a more formalised relationship with service providers.

She added that this had previously been led by a consortium headed by the Citizens' Advice Bureau. The transition to a procured service aims to create a more formalised relationship with any organisation that takes forward the advice services.

Councillor Amanda De Ryk, Cabinet Member for Finance, Resources and Performance, echoed the importance of advice services, particularly during the cost of living crisis. It's really the quality and breadth and depth of advice that we are able to support our residents with particularly, particularly, you know, in this cost of living, very constrained environment. It's really, really, geez. And it is pivotal, she said.

Councillor De Ryk also highlighted the need for a fresh look at how advice is provided across the council, ensuring there are no gaps and that residents receive the best value for money. This review is expected to take place in the coming year. I think it's important that we have a fresh look in the coming year about who does what and make sure that there are no gaps and make sure that we are supporting our residents, as you described, she added. And we actually spend quite a lot of money on advice provision. And I think it's really important that we get we and our residents get the best value for money. And I'm looking forward to working with you on it.

The extension will allow the council to formalise a procured relationship with any organisation taking forward advice services. The council acknowledged the practicalities of ensuring a smooth transition, hence the decision to extend the grant for another year.