CAB still here to help South West Aberdeenshire Citizens Advice Bureau has continued to provide advice and support services by phone and email throughout lockdown. Based in Westhill, the advice charity covers Deeside and most of Donside, including Drumoak, Banchory, Aboyne, Tarland Strathdon, Ballater, Braemar, Torphins, Lumphanan, and Alford. Recent additions to its operating area are Kintore, Kemnay, Blackburn and Newmachar. The Bureau has been operating on a skeleton staff, co-ordinating advice activities from its office base, with many of its volunteer advisers and specialist staff working from home for the last four months.
Bureau Manager Eveline Crossan said. “Although it hasn’t been possible to see our clients face-to-face, we have continued to provide the best service we can by phone and email. We are also testing video calling as an alternative to meeting our clients. Over the last few months, benefits advice has accounted for 46% of our total enquiries, and we have also provided employment advice and interpretation of the various employment support schemes for individuals and businesses, which rose to over 30% of our enquiries. Sadly, the other significant increase has been about relationship breakdown, including domestic abuse.” She added, “We haven’t rested on our laurels during lockdown. We’ve appointed four new members of staff. Three will continue an existing service: Help to Claim Universal Credit; Money and Debt Advice; and extending our Outreach Service in
preparation for a phased return to work. "The fourth is a Gambling Support Service Training and Engagement Officer, who will link with local groups and individuals to explain the sources of help available to people with a gambling addiction and their families”. Anyone with an enquiry should call 01224 747714 or email via the Bureau website on www.swacab.org.uk or directly email enquiries@swacab.org.uk. Callers should be aware that their call will be returned from a with-held number. Alternatively, call the Aberdeenshire CAB Helpline on 0800 028 1032.
10
