A suspended citizen’s advice service dedicated to Manchester’s Jewish community has been guaranteed survival after the leader of Salford City Council intervened.

The Jewish Outreach Project, part of Salford’s Citizen’s Advice Bureau, had funded a dedicated Jewish advisor, but was forced to shut in May when lottery funding ran dry. Now the bureau’s chief, Tom Tougher, said the service will receive half its £16,000 annual budget through Salford council. Its leader, John Merry, secured the money after being told of the closure.

The remaining cash will come from a successful bid for government funds by strictly-Orthodox charity Agudah, who will house the project. While Agudah’s funding will last just one year, Mr Tougher said Salford has paved the way for other councils to fund the project.

Aguda’s Michelle Ciffer said making citizen’s advice accessible to the community is key. “People can get the proper advice and quickly — that’s what’s important, especially in this economic climate.”

If other councils come on board, it will be the first guaranteed funding since the service began six years ago.