A CITIZENS Advice outreach service supporting people in crisis will be able to continue its vital work thanks to a joint cash boost of around £10,000 from Warwickshire County Council and Stratford District Council.
‘Reach Out and Help’ – which covers Studley and Alcester as well as the rest of Stratford District – takes Citizens Advice to people who would otherwise find it difficult to access help to tackle their problems.
In all, some 75 per cent of people helped by the service have a disability or long-term health condition and many have multiple complex needs often including little income, food or essential goods such as bedding, cookers, or heating.
The project has been running for five years, helping more than 30 people a month.
However, due to the pandemic, a bid for external funding had to be put on hold for at least six months.
The funding from County Hall and Stratford District will contribute towards the shortfall.
Reach Out and Help team has assisted more than double the number of people compared to last year needing help with employment issues, such as accessing Employment Support Allowance.
Those needing help with accessing Universal Credit has increased by 80 per cent, while there has been a marked increase in those needing hardship grants.
‘Reach out and help’ can be contacted on 0300 330 1183 Monday to Friday from 10am to 3pm (closed Thursdays).
