NORTON people will flourish thanks to a new community information point, according to the newly-ordained Bishop of Dudley.

Residents will be able to visit  St Michael's Church every Monday morning to seek advice about their problems with health and care services, welfare, benefit issues and debts from trained information champions.

The Rt Revd Graham Usher officially opened the information point on Monday, which is run in partnership with Dudley Advice WEB, headed by Dudley District Citizens Advice Bureaux, Healthwatch Dudley and Making it Real in Dudley.

It is the first of a planned 100 information points across the borough, where information champions from voluntary, community, faith and statutory organisations will aim to to provide people with timely information in an effort to prevent crisis situations.

Peter Dyson from St Michael’s Church, said: "It doesn’t matter who you are, if you live in Norton, come and see us between 9am and 12 noon. You will receive a warm, sympathetic welcome and a cup of tea or coffee. You can chat your problem or concern through with an information champion and we will help with problems large or small."

Bishop Graham added: “I was delighted to be opening the Community Information Point. Through innovative partnerships such as this, the Church of England can serve its wider community and continues to be at the heart of that unseen glue that builds society together. 

"This new service will enable local people to flourish and so I’m delighted to support it."