Bureau helps clients to £1.6m

Bureau helps clients to £1.6m

1st September 2021

CLYDESDALE CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU DELIVERS £1.6 MILLION FOR LOCAL COMMUNITY DURING PANDEMIC

  • OVER 1500 PEOPLE HELPED IN YEAR OF UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGES

Despite the challenges posed by Covid-19 Clydesdale Citizens Advice Bureau unlocked more than £1.6m for people in Clydesdale during the pandemic, new statistics reveal.

Even with face to face advice being restricted for much of the 2020/21 year, the bureau adapted to the many challenges posed by the pandemic and unlocked £1.6 million for people in the local community. The bureau’s trained staff and volunteers delivered this gain through things like helping clients access social security payments, employment entitlements and cheaper bills.

In a year like no other, the bureau helped over 1500 people in Clydesdale.

During lockdown the Clydesale Citizens Advice Bureau quickly transitioned to remote working, supplying the equipment and support to advisers allowing them to work from home and ensure people still got the advice they needed.

The bureau continued to support those needing advice, with trained volunteers continuing to contribute to their community by logging 2000 hours of their own time despite facing numerous challenges posed by the public health crisis and associated restrictions.

The bureau is now turning its focus to helping people through the post-pandemic recovery. Advisers will be on hand to help as always, especially as various support schemes like furlough begin to wind down and energy bills rise in the autumn.

Commenting on the results, Michelle Mair said:

“The last year has been like nothing any of us have ever faced but the way our staff and volunteers came together to support their community even when we had to stay apart has been truly inspiring.

To deliver £1.6 million in gains for the people of Clydesdale in the last year is incredible and something we are all very proud of. This is money that will go into the pockets of local people and will make a huge difference to their ability to make ends meet.

As well as supporting individuals this money will also be spent in local businesses and help the whole community to recover from the impact of the pandemic.

So much of our work requires face to face advice, sometimes that is because of the complex nature of the issue, the vulnerability of the client, or just because people feel more comfortable talking to a friendly face. Lockdowns and social distancing posed immense challenges for us but our team took it in their stride and continued to deliver the best service possible to the community.

“The Clydesdale Citizens Advice Bureau has been there for anybody needing advice and support for many years and we will be here to help our community for many more to come.”