Ci� zen's Advice

South West Aberdeenshire Citi zens Advice Bureau has conti nued 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 additi ons to its operati ng area are Kintore, Kemnay, Blackburn and Newmachar.

The Bureau has been operati ng on a skeleton staff , co-ordinati ng advice acti viti es from its offi ce 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 conti nued to provide the best service we can by phone and email. We are also testi ng video calling as an alternati ve to meeti ng our clients. Over the last few months, benefi ts advice has accounted for 46% of our total enquiries, and we have also provided employment advice and interpretati on of the various employment support schemes for individuals and businesses, which rose to over 30% of our enquiries. Sadly, the other signifi cant increase has been about relati onship breakdown, including domesti c abuse.”

She added, “We haven’t rested on our laurels during lockdown. We’ve appointed four new members of staff . Three will conti nue an existi ng service: Help to Claim Universal Credit; Money and Debt Advice; and extending our Outreach Service in preparati on for a phased return to work. "The fourth is a Gambling Support Service Training and Engagement Offi cer, who will link with local groups and individuals to explain the sources of help available to people with a gambling addicti on 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. Alternati vely, call the Aberdeenshire CAB

Helpline on 0800 028 1032.