REAL HELP NOW for people and businesses

We are determined to learn the lessons of past recessions when people were left to cope on their own.

By contrast, today's booklet includes plain language details of how to get help and what extra support is being introduced this spring. The booklet will be updated as more help becomes available. It can be downloaded from today on www.direct.gov.uk and www.businesslink.gov.uk.

We are publishing this because extra support is needed to get us through the downturn, and people who need the support need to know how to get it.

The international financial crisis and the recession it has caused around the world, and now in the UK, is having a real impact on individuals, families and businesses.

So a range of new help is being made available by the Government for those who need it - people who are being hit by the global credit crunch through no fault of their own.

Extra help for homeowners with difficulties paying their mortgages, people seeking employment or training, small businesses with cashflow problems and larger businesses needing working capital.

The booklet explains how to get help:

• for avoiding repossession
• with housing and living costs
• with finding jobs
• with skills and training
• for graduates and apprenticeships
• with money problems
• for pensioners
• with business loans and long-term finance
• for employers and employees

This real help is part of the Government’s plan to do everything we can to get Britain through these tough times fairly. The Government is fighting this recession with every weapon at our disposal. That’s why we are also acting:

• to prevent the collapse of the banking system, so that people’s savings are secure and the banks can do their job;
• to get the financial system lending again responsibly to support businesses, jobs and growth;
• to support the economy and jobs through direct government action including tax cuts and important investment projects; and
• to help people through these tough times with the help described in this booklet.
  
  

Action has been taken to boost our economy by putting money in people's pockets and bringing investment plans forward, including:

• income tax cuts of £145 for every basic rate tax payer;
• £60 extra for every pensioner in January;
• a VAT cut worth on average over £200 to every family this year; and
• an extra £3 billion investment in projects that will protect and create jobs.

And because the problems we face and the flows of money are international, we will be working with other countries to encourage them to take similar action.

The alternative - do nothing - would leave homeowners and businesses to go to the wall. We know this is going to be a difficult year and unlike in previous recessions we think government needs to give people a helping hand to get through.

Unlike in previous recessions, this government will not turn our backs and watch short-term unemployment turn into long-term unemployment with all the consequences that has for local communities.

We will not leave homeowners worried about paying the bills with nowhere to turn. And we will not abandon the many creditworthy businesses that in normal times would be able to borrow to invest.
 
We will provide real help now, when you need it. And the right action now to tackle the international causes of the global problem.