Barriers to accessing information and advice

• The main barrier to accessing information and advice is the uncertainty that the advice services will be able to help them (35%)
• However, almost a quarter of residents (23%) don’t know where to go to get help
• Almost half of residents (48%) say nothing is making it difficult to access information and advice

This chart show the things that make it difficult to access information and advice
35% don’t think they’ll be able to do anything to help
23% don’t know where to go to get help
8% have had a bad experience in the past
3% said not having online access
1% said not having access to a telephone
5% said something else
48% said nothing makes it difficult to access information and advice

Age

Those aged 16-24 are least likely to know where to go for help (40%). Younger demographics (16-34) are more likely to have had a bad experience and think that advice services won’t be able to help them

Disability

Those with a disability are more likely to not have internet access (5%), to have had a bad experience (15%) and think that advice services won’t be able to help them (48%)

Household income

Those earning £40k+ are more likely to be aware of Hive Portsmouth and Switched On Portsmouth. Those earning £20k to £40k are more likely to use the council’s cost of living helpline

Ethnic group

Those from an ethnic minority are more likely to be aware of Advice Portsmouth (43%) and less aware of Hive Portsmouth (25%). They are much more likely to use the council’s cost of living helpline (25%) and Citizens Advice (29%)

Household income

Those earning £20k to £40k are the least likely income bracket to know where to go to get help (36%). Those earning less than £20k are most likely to think that advice services won’t be able to help them (50%), to have had a bad experience (18%) and to not have online access (7%)

Ethnic group

Those from an ethnic minority group are much less likely to know where to go for help (53%) and to have had a bad experience (26%)

Housing status

Renters are more likely to have had a bad experience (16%) and think that advice services won’t be able to help them (49% LA, 45% private)