CITIZENS ADVICE AND RIGHTS FIFE PUTS £12.3m INTO LOCAL PEOPLES POCKETS

New figures published today show that Citizens Advice and Rights Fife (CARF) Bureau unlocked a total of £12.3m for the local people who sought their help in the year 2019/20.

The sum includes money gained through social security payments, employment entitlements, savings on utility costs and reductions in debt payments.

In response to lockdown, the local bureau had to suspend face-to-face advice in March 2020 but adapted quickly to circumstances and remained contactable for advice by phone and email. Since April the CAB has issued 45,890 pieces of advice. The CAB reopened offices in Kirkcaldy, Glenrothes, Leven and Dunfermline for face to face advice in essential circumstances for vulnerable clients in August.

Across Scotland as a whole, the Citizens Advice network unlocked a staggering £170 million for people - £40million more than the previous year. The figures mean that for every £1 invested in core advice funding, the network unlocked £16 in client gains.

CARF CEO David Redpath said:

“I’m extremely proud of the work that our team does every day. Our advisers concentrate on individual cases day by day, but when you see the total amount that we gained for people it really is quite breath-taking.

“And I would expect that a lot of that money will be spent in local shops and businesses, so helping to boost them too.

“Investing in CABs is investing in our people and the local community. Across the network every £1 invested in core advice delivered £16 for people. That’s a great return on investment that makes a real difference for people.

“This has been a year like no other, and the pandemic changed the way of life for so many of us, but our amazing advisers didn’t miss a beat and ensured people in Fife got the advice they needed.

“It just goes to show that, if you are struggling financially, our advice really can help you. Our service is completely free, impartial and confidential.”