Free Impartial Confidential Independent
Mid & East Antrim Community Advice Services helps people resolve their debt, benefits, housing, legal, discrimination, employment, immigration, consumer and other problems and is available to everyone regardless of race, gender, sexuality, age, nationality, disability or religion.
Mid & East Antrim Community Advice Services is a registered charity core funded by Mid & East Antrim Borough Council. We receive other funding from projects such as Welfare Reform, Pension Wise, Money Advice Service and Mid & East Antrim Age Well Partnership, as well as donations from the public.
- Independent – We are an independent charity working in partnership with others to improve access to advice;
- Free – Our services are free;
- Confidential – The client’s visit and the nature of their enquiry are not divulged to anyone outside Mid & East Antrim Community Advice Services;
- Impartial – Mid & East Antrim Community Advice Services puts the client’s interest first and provides information, advice and assistance to enable people to make informed decisions.
Our Aims
- To ensure that individuals do not suffer through lack of knowledge of their rights and responsibilities or of the services available to them, or through an inability to express their needs effectively;
- To exercise a responsible influence on the development of social policies and services, both locally and nationally.
Opening Hours
Monday
9.30am - 4.30pm Larne & Ballymena
Tuesday
9.30am - 7pm Larne & Ballymena (4.30pm-7pm telephone lines/appointment only)
Wednesday
9.30am - 4.30pm Larne & Ballymena
Thursday
9.30am - 7pm Larne & Ballymena (4.30pm-7pm telephone lines/appointment only)
Friday
9.30am - 4.30pm Larne & Ballymena
Saturday
9am - 12pm Telephone lines only
Telephone lines open Mon-Fri
9.30am - 12.30pm - 1.30pm - 4.30pm
Latest News
MEACAS Update April 2025
Our office and telephone line opening hours have changed starting from today. Ballymena & Larne offices are now open Mon-Fri from 9.30am-4.30pm. Carrickfergus is open from 10am-4pm on […]
MEACAS closure date for Christmas
MEACAS will be closing on Thursday 19th December 2024 at 4pm for Christmas and we will be reopening on Monday 6th January 2025 at 10am. Mid and East […]
Trainee Debt Advisor - 17.5 per week
Trainee Debt Advisor - 17.5 per week
www.communityni.org
Join our funded Trainee Debt Advisor programme! Earn while you learn, with competitive salary progression and structured training. Make a real difference in people's lives. Enjoy great benefits, inclu...0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Financial Wellbeing Co-Ordinator
Financial Wellbeing Co-Ordinator
www.communityni.org
This post is for a new project which aims to ensure that residents of Mid & East Antrim can easily access the free, independent debt advice and support provisions available within the area. This role ...0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Fulltime Experienced Generalist Advisor
Fulltime Experienced Generalist Advisor
www.communityni.org
Community Advice Mid & East Antrim is looking to recruit experienced Generalist Advisers to join our dynamic team across Mid & East Antrim. The successful candidate will be based in either our Ballyme...0 CommentsComment on Facebook
We have updated our opening hours as below:
2 CommentsComment on Facebook
I have tried to contact this office for a week.why no one answer on the phone?
Hello
A big thank you to the lads at Harryville Men’s Shed for having us to give a talk yesterday, as part of our new project, for the bacon butties and these beautiful slate coasters. These are the talk of the office 😍
If you are involved with a community group within Mid and East Antrim and would like us to come out and give a talk or attend an event then drop an email to julia.cleeland@meacas.com
Mid and East Antrim Borough Council Harryville Mens Shed
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We are recruiting for a Part time Trainee Debt Advisor
Trainee Debt Advisor - 17.5 per week
www.communityni.org
Join our funded Trainee Debt Advisor programme! Earn while you learn, with competitive salary progression and structured training. Make a real difference in people's lives. Enjoy great benefits, inclu...0 CommentsComment on Facebook
We are recruiting for a Financial Wellbeing Co-Ordinator for a new project within the Mid and East Antrim Council area
Financial Wellbeing Co-Ordinator
www.communityni.org
This post is for a new project which aims to ensure that residents of Mid & East Antrim can easily access the free, independent debt advice and support provisions available within the area. This role ...0 CommentsComment on Facebook
We are recruiting. For more information and an application form please see the link below on Community Jobs NI
Fulltime Experienced Generalist Advisor
www.communityni.org
Community Advice Mid & East Antrim is looking to recruit experienced Generalist Advisers to join our dynamic team across Mid & East Antrim. The successful candidate will be based in either our Ballyme...0 CommentsComment on Facebook
We are delighted to announce our new fully accessible Ballymena office is now open:
7 Mill Street
Ballymena
BT43 5AA
Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm
Tel: 02896001333
Email: advice@meacas.com
On street parking up to 30 mins and unlimited for Blue Badge holders with Castle Street Car Park just 2 minutes walk.
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Carole Henry Thompson
Due to the red weather warning issued for Friday 24th January, our offices will be closed. Our phone lines will be open as normal from 10am to 4pm.
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Our offices are now closed for the holidays and will reopen on Monday 6th January at 10am.
We would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Peaceful New Year
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hope you all have a happy Christmas and New Year, you all do an amazing job 😊
Thank you for all your support 😊🙏
Just announced:
All pensioners in Northern Ireland affected by the changes to the winter fuel payments will now receive a one off payment of £100.
The payment will be made by March 2025 at the latest and there will be no application process as those eligible will be identified through existing records and payments made automatically.
Those pensioners in receipt of Pension Credit or other means tested benefits will receive the regular winter fuel payment.
£100 payment to help pensioners with winter fuel cuts - Gordon Lyons
www.bbc.com
Pensioners affected by cuts to winter fuel support are to get a one-off £100 payment from Stormont.0 CommentsComment on Facebook
A set of keys has been found by a member of staff on Recreation Road Larne. They are safe in our Station Road office Larne. If these are yours then call in to collect. We are open Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm
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If you have been affected by the changes to the eligibility to the Winter Fuel Payment (WFP) and are not in receipt of Pension Credit then give us a call or drop us an email and we will carry out a benefit check to see if there is an entitlement to Pension Credit.
Pension Credit can be backdated up to 3 months so applying before 21st December 2024 could bring you into entitlement for the WFP.
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We are experiencing an unprecedented high call volume and if you are unable to get through by phone or are contacting us out of hours then you can email the advice team at advice@meacas.com
Remember to include your name, postcode and a contact number and details of your query.
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For free, impartial and confidential debt advice contact Amy on:
02890020718 or
Email: amy.thompson@meacas.com
1 CommentComment on Facebook
Tankus you for help me please tankus you 🙏
We are recruiting for a variety of roles throughout Mid & East Antrim.
For more information or to apply email julia.cleeland@meacas.com stating the role or roles that you are interested in and we will send you an application pack.
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Don't forget to make your application for the School Uniform Grant and Free School Meals. It can take 4 to 5 weeks for your application to be processed so don't leave it too late.
You can apply online from the link below 👇
Apply for Free School Meals / Uniform Grants
www.eani.org.uk
Free School Meals / Uniform Grants Application information and process.0 CommentsComment on Facebook
We are currently recruiting for volunteers and if you have a few hours to spare each week and would like to do something worthwhile, why not volunteer for us.
Experience is not necessary as full training will be given. We also welcome applications from experienced advisors or those who have been away from advice and would like to rejoin the advice sector.
2 CommentsComment on Facebook
Tankus you for help me Tankus you 👋 👋 👋 👋 👋 👋 👋 👋 👋
Hello help me please 🙏 😢 😭
Our new office has opened in Broughshane from today 1st July for all our Ballymena clients and appointments are available Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm.
Contact us on 02896 001333 option 3 to make an appointment.
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We are celebrating our past and present volunteers during this Volunteer Week, which runs from June 1st to June 7th.
Mid & East Antrim Community Advice Services would not be able to provide the quality services we offer without the invaluable contributions of our volunteers. A big thank you to each and every one of you who have given of your time to volunteer with us, we couldn’t do it without you 👏👏
#VolunteersWeek #VolunteersWeek2023 #celebrateandinspire #thankyouvolunteers
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Volunteer recruitment now open. Closing date Friday 16th June.
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Volunteer recruitment now open for our Ballymena, Carrickfergus and Larne offices.
Closing date Friday 16th June at 4pm.
Volunteers are vital for us to be able to offer the full range of services that we do and applications are open to anyone who has some spare time and would like to help the local community.
No experience necessary as full training will be given.
To apply or for more information, please contact us on the email in the flyer below 👇
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Meacas along with a number of other support agencies will be in attendance at the Rural Support Clinic this Friday in Glenlough Community Centre, Carnlough from 10am to 2pm.
1 CommentComment on Facebook
Hi
We are working for the fourth year with Habitat for Humanity to deliver the MEA Christmas Toy Container project. This project is involves inviting local residents to drop off pre-loved / unwanted toys to our 5 Household Recycling Centres (HRCs) and 3 Leisure Centres throughout November / December 2022. These toys are then provided to the local community at a very reasonable price.
Habitat are hosting a pop up shop in our Carrick and Larne Pop Up Shops next week and the following week where they will be offering toy at a very reasonable price!
· Pop Up Shop in Carrickfergus (De Courcy Centre) on Tuesday 29 November 2022; and
· Pop Up Shop in Larne (Main Street) on 6 December 2022.
Why not pop in and pick up a Christmas bargain for a little (or big!) one?
#meactiononenvironment #meachristmastoycontainer2022
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Are you interested in volunteering? Why not pop into the Tower Centre today and have a chat with Suzy about the opportunities available.
We have a number of volunteer positions available in our Ballymena, Carrick and Larne offices for various positions including reception and trainee advisers.
We also have some new volunteering opportunities within the new community hub which is due to open soon in Ballymena which include delivery drivers, meet and greet volunteers and volunteer cooks.
If you have some spare time and would like to volunteer then either come along to the Tower Centre today or give us a call for more information on 02896 001333.
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
See the below offers that some businesses are doing to help with the cost of living.
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Our Ballymena office phones and internet are currently down. We are currently working to try and resolve this issue. Please be patient and thank you for your understanding.
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To contact Action Fraud please follow this link: www.actionfraud.police.uk/
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
You may be eligible for one, or more, of these Cost of Living Support Payments if you get certain benefits or tax credits.
You do not need to do anything to apply. If you are eligible, you’ll be paid automatically in the same way you receive your normal benefit payments or tax credits.
These additional cost of living payments will be made separately from your normal payments. They are not taxable and will not affect any of the benefits or tax credits you get.
To be eligible for the first Cost of Living Payment of £326, you will need to have been entitled to (or later become entitled to) one of the following benefits for any day in the period 26 April 2022 to 25 May 2022:
Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
Income Support
Pension Credit
Universal Credit
The first cost of living payment of £326 will be paid to most eligible people in Northern Ireland from 20 July onwards - these payments will continue until the end of July.
Those on Tax Credits will receive payments in Autumn.
www.nidirect.gov.uk
A cost of living support package has been put in place for 2022 that includes one-off payments to those on income related benefits, disabled claimants and pensioners. These payments are intended to pr...0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Come to our stall at the Wellington Court Job Fair from 12pm to 2pm today and have a chat!
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