Hat trick of national IMA award shortlistings for charity’s debt team
A team of South Gloucestershire debt experts who provide crucial help for people struggling have been shortlisted for prestigious national awards for the third year running.
The specialist debt team at Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire – the largest advice agency in South Gloucestershire – have been shortlisted for Debt Team of the Year.
This is a national award provided by the Institute of Money Advisers (IMA) – the organisation that provides accreditation for money advisers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
It is not the first time the team have been in the running for an IMA award. Debt Team Manager Yvonne Parks was shortlisted for national Adviser of the Year in 2023 and debt adviser Angus Macdonald won national Newcomer of the Year last year.
It is very rare for a team to get this kind of recognition three years in a row at the awards and speaks volumes of the team’s strength and dedication to helping those who need it in South Gloucestershire.
Debt team’s role
The team help people who have complex debts and have come to the charity’s face-to-face drop-in sessions – or who have been referred through another route such as by the charity’s Food Bank Adviser.
They also see clients who have been referred by advisers on the charity’s projects including When Advice Really Matters (WARM) – a partnership with health services in the region – and the Ingeus project which helps people on probation.
The team of four advisers – whose hours add up to around two full-time equivalents -helped more than 500 people in 2024-25, writing off £1.5 million of debt.
This includes helping people with council tax arrears, credit card debts, water debts and mortgage and rent arrears as well as other types of debt.
The free advice provided by the team is immensely valuable for people struggling in South Gloucestershire – who may feel they have nowhere else to turn for help.
National awards
The team have been shortlisted due to:
- the wealth of experience they bring – particularly Yvonne and Adviser Linda Mullholland, who have 64 years of specialist debt advice experience between them
- the team’s commitment to standards of excellence – regulated by the IMA
- three of the four advisers being Debt Relief Order (DRO) intermediaries – meaning they can apply for DROs on the client’s behalf, allowing the client to have up to £50,000 written off
- The team’s approach to looking at at cases holistically – meaning they don’t only investigate the debt the client has come to Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire but check underlying reasons for the debt and look for ways of maximising income
The team help people through several channels: face-to-face, in the charity’s office in Yate as well as an outreach session at Page Community Association in Staple Hill on Thursdays; via phone; and via email.
All of the advisers in the team have passed the IMA’s Certificate in Money Advice Practice – which combined with four years of practical experience allows a person to become a specialist debt adviser.
And the debt team also campaign on social policy issues – such as recently putting pressure on a new water provider in the area to begin offering the equivalent social tariffs as offered by Bristol and Wessex Water.
‘Really gratifying’
Debt Team Manager Yvonne Parks said: “It’s nice to have recognition of the work we do and it’s a real boost to our morale – to feel that we are recognised by the wider community, and specifically a body such as the IMA.
“To have this recognition for the work we have put in is really gratifying as it has been a lot of work.
“Angus is a fantastic addition to the team and has done so much. Adviser Eliza Hirst is the first person in the UK to get 100% in the IMA’s Certificate in Money Advice Practice exam.
“And Linda was Debt Advice Manager for the Bristol Debt Advice Centre – now called Talking Money – for around 15 years so we’re really fortunate to have her in the team.”
One of Yvonne’s many achievements in her career was representing a client in an important legal case – Bristol and West Plc v Bartlett – which established the precedent for the length of time mortgage lenders have to pursue borrowers for outstanding amounts even after the lender has repossessed and sold the property.
The IMA Awards winners will be announced on Thursday 12th June, 2025, at the IMA Conference at The Rep Theatre, Birmingham.
Anyone living in South Gloucestershire who needs help with debt is asked to come to Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire’s face-to-face drop-in sessions around the region in the first instance.
The times and locations of these can be found at: https://www.southgloscab.org.uk/get-advice/visit-us/
Published 28/05/25.
