Columns

Every month, the Citizens Advice Bureau provides advice for Chronicle readers with a question-and-answer style column.

In their latest version, the bureau addresses problems keeping up with mortgage repayments.

Q. I'm in deep trouble with my mortgage. Recently I saw an ad about exchange with delated completion arrangements, which I thought could help, but my wife is worried it may cause us more problems than it solves. What should we do?

Last month I described a local giving circle - a group of neighbours coming together to raise more than £100,000 for charities.

Not all such groups will be on this scale, but the opportunities to form them are limitless.

One of our supporters was talking about birthday presents with mothers of her six year-old daughter's friends.

Every month, the Citizens Advice Bureau provides advice for Chronicle readers with a question-and-answer style column.

In their latest column, the bureau addresses money problems for post-16 students.

Q. My best friend at sixth form college has told me she might have to give up doing her A-levels because of money problems at home. Is there anything that could help her stay on?

In early 2010, three neighbours living on a communal garden in North Kensington approached the Kensington & Chelsea Foundation wanting to 'do something' to help local charities working for youth and education.

They recognised how fortunate they were, compared with the huge disadvantage of many living close by.

After investigating 17 charities, together we selected four which met their criteria. Based on these, they approached other friends in their neighbourhood, eventually bringing together 11 people ready to commit £5,000 each to a fund they established - the Grove Trust.

Every month, the Citizens Advice Bureau in Kensington and Chelsea answers a commonly asked question about finance, benefits or residents' rights.

This month, they address how green energy grants can help save householders money on gas and electricity bills.

Q. I'm looking for ways to cut my gas and electricity bills before the winter sets in, and I've heard there are government grants available to make your home more energy efficient. Do you have any details?

The Kensington and Chelsea Foundation was formed three years ago in response to pressures from two sides.

On one there are more than 400 charities serving the Royal Borough and its huge economic and social gaps, and on the other, a relatively wealthy cohort of local residents and businesses who are potentially generous, but know nothing about local needs or the charities serving them.

Some of the gaps in our borough are shocking.