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Cost-of-living crisis: Caithness CAB expecting huge demand for help as households face further hardship with energy bills set to soar


By John Davidson

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Households are already seeking support with further energy price rises looming.
Households are already seeking support with further energy price rises looming.

An independent advice service in Caithness is bracing itself for a huge increase in demand for its help as the cost-of-living crisis deepens.

The local Citizens' Advice Bureau has already seen a 58 per cent rise in the number of calls it has received from people seeking advice on how to cope with rising energy costs compared to last year.

Those figures relate to the months April to June, when energy is in less demand and before the October price cap rise and cooler autumn and winter weather hits.

Sadie Kevill, Caithness CAB manager, said: "It’s unbelievable and quite worrying, really, with the cost of living going up in other areas too.

"In light of the energy price cap increase, we are thinking that we will undoubtedly be experiencing an increase in the number of clients facing hardship in the coming months, which is a real worry.

"We’re seeing some clients coming to us that have several issues – they may be struggling to pay for food and fuel, so then we’re exploring a complex range of support that they’re requiring.

"We definitely anticipate an increase in that come October and we’re working with our team here and looking at opportunities to build further capacity to support the demand that we’re going to be faced with."

She added that referrals to food banks and for charitable support also rose by around 45 per cent in the same three months compared to 2021.

Sadie Kevill, the Caithness CAB manager, is expecting a rise is demand for support this autumn and winter.
Sadie Kevill, the Caithness CAB manager, is expecting a rise is demand for support this autumn and winter.

Energy analysts at Cornwall Insight said earlier this week that energy bills would rise by more than previously thought, reaching around £3582 per year for the average household from October – and soaring to more than £4200 in January.

The latest forecast comes as the UK government faces fresh calls to provide more help to struggling households this autumn.

Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross MP Jamie Stone wants to see October's energy price cap increase cancelled and funded by the government to save households in the Highlands £1848 a year or £735 if they are off grid.

The Liberal Democrats say the estimated £36 billion cost of their plan should be met by expanding the windfall tax on oil and gas company profits, and using the government’s higher-than-expected VAT revenues as a result of rising inflation.

Mr Stone said: “Hard-working families in the Highlands are already struggling to make ends meet, and are deeply concerned about how they will cope with the predicted rise in energy bills.

“This Conservative government is stalling in the face of a national emergency and, yet again, is simply not doing enough to put money back in the pockets of hard-working people.

“Countless families and pensioners across the far north are already struggling, and they cannot wait for a new Conservative leader to act.

“This is an emergency, and the government must step in now to help families and pensioners in the Highlands by cancelling the planned rise in energy bills this October.”

Ms Kevill agreed that "more needs to be done" and said that the CAB service would be there, along with other local organisations, to support people who are struggling.

She said: "There’s a lot of support across Caithness and we all work in partnership to support people across the county.

"We offer a range of advice ourselves but we can also signpost to other organisations that can support people in different areas.

"Everybody has their own individual set of circumstances, so by speaking to the individuals we are able to tailor our support to best suit their needs, which means we can maximise any income they are entitled to or signpost them to other agencies that will also be able to help them."

Households are already set to receive £400 towards energy bills between October and March, but prices have skyrocketed since that support was announced.

Ms Kevill added: "There are going to be some challenging times ahead but the more we can pull together as a community to try and support people the better. We can play our part in that, but I think there’s more that can be done elsewhere."

If you are facing hardship, you can contact Caithness CAB on 01847 894243, email bureau@caithnesscab.casonline.org.uk or visit www.cas.org.uk/bureaux/caithness-citizens-advice-bureau

Help is also available from Advice Direct Scotland at energyadvice.scot


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