Open Access Social Welfare Advice Service for Portsmouth

Portsmouth City Council is seeking a provider to deliver a comprehensive, free advice service for adults in Portsmouth. The service will offer specialist and generalist advice on housing, welfare benefits, debt, income maximisation, employment rights, family issues, and consumer matters to residents and council tenants. The provider must be registered with the Financial Conduct Authority for debt counselling and employ approved intermediaries for Debt Relief Orders. Services will be delivered through multiple channels including in-person consultations from central location(s), telephone, email, home visits, and other accessible options. The service supports approximately 1,150 people monthly across key outcome areas: financial wellbeing, housing stability, access to rights and entitlements, family and social stability, health and wellbeing, digital skills, and system-level improvements. The contract is valued at £295,000 annually (£1,475,000 over 5 years) from council funding, with an additional £241,666 from the Crisis and Resilience Fund (3 years, April 2026 to March 2029) to expand outreach and community-based provision. The service prioritises early intervention to prevent crises and provides crisis support with solutions addressing root causes.