A REPORT from Citizens Advice (CA) Cornwall this week has highlighted an increasing demand from members of the public for the charity’s help with issues regarding benefits, debt, housing, employment and relationship breakdowns.
The charity’s new annual report shows that 9,500 people approached the CA in the county for help in 2019/20, an increase of 1,000 on the previous year. In addition, in the same period income gained by people who came to the organisation for help increased from a total of £3.4m to £5.7m, while the amount of debt written off increased from £5.5m to £5.6m.
The majority of clients (32%) approached CA Cornwall for help in managing debt, followed by those wanting assistance with Universal Credit claims (20%), other benefits (18%), financial services (12%), housing (4%), employment issues (3%) and relationship breakdown (2%).
These figures come in the middle of one of the most turbulent years in living memory and do not include the full extent of the impact of the Covid-19 lockdown on people in Cornwall.
CA Cornwall chief executive Gill Pipkin said: “These latest statistics show our service is needed more than ever in Cornwall. In the aftermath of lockdown, with an expected large rise in redundancies, rent arrears and debt, we expect an even bigger demand for free, independent help and advice in all parts of the county and the Isles of Scilly.
“It’s really important that people know they have somewhere to turn to before their problems become a crisis and there are a team of dedicated and fully trained advisers waiting to help out.”
In addition to the core Citizens Advice, service run from offices and outreach locations across Cornwall, the charity also provides for the public the assistance of organisations Macmillan Cancer Care and Support (specialist welfare benefits advice), the Debt Advice Project (funded by the Money Advice Service), Pension Wise (free, independent guidance for anyone aged 50-plus with a defined contribution pension pot), Financial Capability (working to improve people’s financial skills to overcome poor money management) and Victim Care (advice for victims of crime ranging from welfare benefits and employment to housing, relationship breakdown, domestic violence and debt).