Critical advice service under threat.
Named in the current budget consultation, Dumfries and Galloway Citizens Advice Service (D&G CAS) is facing the possibility of losing all of its funding from Dumfries and Galloway Council.
Phil Stewart, D&G CAS Chief Executive Officer explained, “The prospect of losing all of our core funding would be a catastrophic blow, not just for the sixty six jobs, thirty five volunteers we support, but critically for the people of Dumfries and Galloway in need of the lifeline services we offer- a service that they come to because the help and support they need is not available anywhere else.
“We have worked hard to embed our advice service into communities right across the region, providing vital support at the right place, at the right time and in the right way. Over the past year alone, core investment by the Council has helped us provide a lifeline service to over 8000 clients with 40 000 issues, putting almost £10 million back into their pockets and the local economy. And in addition, we have helped locals deal with £8.6 million of debt. But the real value of our advice service goes way beyond just the numbers. It helps people to keep roofs over their heads, food on the table and the peace of mind to know there is someone to offer a helping hand in tough times.
Marsali Caig, Chair of the D&G CAS Board said, “Whilst we fully understand the need for the Council to be making radical savings, and the much wider public sector funding landscape, however we don’t believe that impacting the most vulnerable is the best place to start. The core investment we receive from the Council delivers expert advice and positive financial outcomes, but the harder to measure impact is the peace of mind it can bring to people who can often be facing problems and challenges that impact upon how you feel every day. Peace of mind is priceless. As a local independent charity, we believe that everyone is entitled to a decent standard of living, and the thousands of people we help with that every year speaks for itself in the feedback our clients give us. There is only a short timescale to respond to the Council consultation and time is of the essence.”
Phil continued, “We would like to encourage everyone who has benefitted from, understands our service, or is concerned at the injustice inflicted upon and deprivation that such a decision would have on our communities, to write to their local councillors, MSPs and MPs letting them know how vital our service is, and how the core investment we get is critical to being able to provide that. We know that we support some of our most vulnerable local people and the funding we receive helps to reduce the hardship that too many of our friends, neighbours and families are facing.”
The budget consultation can be found on Dumfries and Galloway Council’s website https://www.
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