Over 700 clients helped by Caithness Citizens Advice Bureau since start of pandemic
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More than 700 clients have been helped by Caithness Citizens Advice Bureau since the start of the coronavirus lockdown, newly released figures show.
And the client financial gain over the same period – from March 23 to July 15 – has amounted to over £1.5 million.
Demand for Caithness CAB's free, confidential and impartial advice has been constant throughout the past year, not just during the pandemic. During 2019/20 it saw some 2219 unique clients, bringing in more than £4.2 million in client financial gain.
The teams have been continuing to work from both offices – in Thurso and Wick – as well as remotely, providing advice and support by phone, email and webchat.
Bureau manager Isobel Mackay explained that three of the local staff have supported Citizens Advice Scotland's national helpline during the public health emergency.
"Our aim over the coming weeks is to work in partnership with other organisations to ensure we support clients with employment-related issues," she said. "We are also looking to recruit an employment adviser to improve our service."
Caithness CAB provided advice to 241 clients during June 2020, of whom 42 per cent were first-time bureau clients. Many new clients were looking for employment-related advice on issues such as redundancy, furlough and retraining opportunities.
"Our regular clients’ main areas of advice were around benefits, debt and financial or charitable support during the pandemic," Isobel said. "In line with Citizens Advice Scotland national figures, however, employment-related advice has increased.
"Our aim is to work in partnership with local organisations through Partnership Action for Continuing Employment [PACE] to ensure we have a full awareness of employment issues.
"We are extremely grateful to Highland Council, Baillie Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund and Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd who have provided funding to enable us to purchase PPE which will protect both our staff and clients."
Caithness CAB is now working on a post-lockdown plan in line with Scottish Government guidance to ensure it is able to keep supporting the community.
Isobel added: "We will continue to update our community as we move towards opening our doors to our clients."
