Agenda item

The Area Council Manager provided members with an update on the Working Together Fund – Citizen’s Advice Bureau Debt Advice Service from the period October 2020 to December 2021.

Members were informed that additional funding from the Hardship Fund had enabled an extension to the contract to March 2022.

Some background information was provided about the contract and how it had started as a trial in April 2019.  The accredited, free and confidential sessions were held on the 2^nd and 4^th Wednesday of every month in Penistone Town Hall by Citizens Advice Bureau staff to provide help on a number of issues including support on debt, money management and benefits. 

Sine the pandemic the service had been delivered via telephone and email provision in line with government guidelines.  150 clients had been assisted in the period from October, 2020 to December, 2021 and 306 clients from the beginning of the contract, which on average equated to 10 contacts per month.  A total of 274 issues had been dealt with which was around 1.83 issues per client.    

Although the contract dealt with mostly debts, clients had been aided in claiming £42,139 worth of welfare benefits making a total of £187,762 since the project began.  £1,066,069 worth of debts had been managed culminating in a total of £1,136,084 since the start of the project.

Members heard how the return on investment per £1 was £4 in benefits and £105 in debts, however this was skewed by just one client that was helped with managing £1million. 

The majority of enquiries made and dealt with revolved around debt, benefits including tax credits and universal credit, relationships and families, employment and housing. 

Members received a breakdown of profile data in the year to date which included 49% of clients accessing the service presented with long term health conditions or disabilities and an even split on male and female clients had been seen.  For housing types a varied pattern of people had been seen with 13% who owned their own home and 14% lived in private rented properties but with 59% who preferred not to say.  The employment status showed a similar picture with 23% identified as full time/part time/self employed and 8% on sickness benefit but with 63% not recorded.    

RESOLVED that thanks be given for the presentation and that its contents be noted.