Argyll and Bute Citizen's Advice Bureau Update
Argyll and Bute Council · 11 February 2025
Back to Helensburgh and Lomond Area Community Planning Group — 11 February 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Argyll & Bute Citizens Advice Bureau Community Planning Partnerships Update Jan 2025 Client Numbers Contacts Advice CFG Nov 24 – Jan 25 638 (261 new) 2254 3014 £531,418 Previous Quarter Aug 24 – Oct 24 692 (346 new) 2526 3072 £426,568 Previous Year April 23 – Jan 24 1703 (1070) 8495 8856 £1,403,271 April 24 – Jan 25 1701 (1046 new) 7924 10,123 £1,777,832 Figure 1Level 1 Advice codes April 24 - Jan 25
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Advice Provision Following seasonal demand trends, numbers of calls to the Bureau rose significantly in October and November but dropped slightly in December. The turn of the year has witnessed an ongoing rise in the numbers of individuals approaching the Bureau for advice and crisis support in part due to the reduction in eligibility to the winter fuel allowance, cold weather snap and it being the post xmas period. There has been a small reduction of 3% in client numbers this quarter compared to the previous, with an increase of 43% in the numbers of clients requesting emergency assistance. However, if we compare figures to the same period in 2023, there has been a small reduction of overall clients by around 5.5% and a reduction in those seeking financial crisis support by 18%. Whereas, client receiving welfare/benefits advice has risen by 12% and debt advice provision has increased from the same period in 2023 by 108%! Volunteer recruitment The Bureau is once again recruiting for volunteer advisers, training commences March 2025 – contact info@abcab.org.uk for an application pack. We are also looking for Trustees to join the Board of the CAB, all training is provided however those with charity finance and HR expertise are particularly welcome to apply. Paid Roles We are also recruiting for several paid roles at present including Help to Claim Advisers; supporting people to make their first claims for Universal Credit and Admin. Contact recruitment@abcab.org.uk for an application pack
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Services within the Bureau Welfare Rights – The CAB is the council’s contracted provider of Benefits and Debt Advice and provides support with completing applications, submitting mandatory reconsideration requests and representation at tribunal/appeals.
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Housing Debt – support for people in housing arrears or facing debts that threaten tenure retention. FCA regulated support to address debts and seek free solutions includes court representation where required. Additionally, for vulnerable clients struggling to cope with Council Tax Debt, we are engaging with the LA’s CT Debt team to offer support, a 3 month breathing space and income maximization service. We will be hosting pop-up events over the coming months to increase awareness of the issues surrounding Council Tax and the help available.
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Energy efficiency and debt support – Support to negotiate with Suppliers, seek debt reduction, change tariffs, submit complaints to suppliers and Ombudsman. Armed Services Support Project, following the Royal British Legion’s decision last year to withdraw holistic advice and support to serving and veteran communities in and across Scotland we had to pause support to this demographic in 2024. I am delighted to be able to report that we have secured a 3- year award from the Veterans Foundation to provide bespoke support and advice to former and current forces personnel and their dependents within the scope of our new project titled About Turn Argyll. Support can be accessed through contacting the CAB directly. Patient Advice Support Service – advice on patient rights, complaints to GP’s, HSCP, and SPSO. Money Talk Plus – Income maximization project looking to reduce costs, increase income through benefits entitlements and address low persistent debt. Carers Advice Project. We are the HSCP’s contracted provided of Money Advice Sessions from February 2025 and over this two year project our adviser(s) will be located within each of the regions Carers centres in order to provide advice around Carers benefits, powers of attorney, debt, bills and much more. Generalist advice on Housing, Employment relationship, court processes, parking charge notices and neighbour disputes. Outreach Locations Dunoon [Food bank, Crossroads Carers and JC+] Oban [Hope Kitchen and JC+] Campbeltown JC+ Helensburgh Carers Centre Research areas Private Rental Sectors – looking at impact of local housing market on communities in and across Argyll & Bute. We have been working in conjunction with the Council’s Housing team looking into the issues faced by landlords across the region in order to feed into the Council’s Housing Emergency work it has been carrying out. The results have illuminating with around 35% disclosing they intend to divest themselves of their rental properties over the next year or so.