Minister pledges £2.2m for essential free advice services in Wales

26 Jun 2015 02:30 PM

Vital frontline advice services which help vulnerable people across Wales are set to receive £2,187,000, Communities Minister Lesley Griffiths has announced.

The grant funding will enable Citizens Advice Cymru, Shelter Cymru, SNAP Cymru, Age Cymru and Tenovus Cancer Care to offer free advice on a range of important issues which have a huge impact on people’s lives, such as cancer support, housing, employment and debt.

The continued investment will enable the organisations to build on the good work they achieved last year. Research shows that in 2014/15 they responded to 30,000 requests for information and advice and secured almost £6.5 million in welfare benefits for people in Wales.

Tenovus Cancer Care established new outreach clinics in Cardiff and Holywell and supported 4,000 people whose lives are affected by cancer. They also secured £2.2 million in income support for cancer patients and their loved ones.

Almost 1000 people suffering from discrimination benefitted from specialist advice, while Shelter Cymru prevented homelessness in over 75% of housing advice cases.

Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty, Lesley Griffiths, said:

“When people are struggling with ill-health, debt, unemployment or housing problems, sound advice and a helping hand can really help get their lives back on track.

“This is why we have awarded £2.2 million to Citizens Advice Cymru, Shelter Cymru, SNAP Cymru, Age Cymru and Tenovus Cancer Care. Our significant investment will enable these free advice services to continue delivering much needed support to vulnerable people across Wales and build on the excellent results they achieved last year.”

One of the people to benefit from support from Citizens Advice is 46-year-old Melanie Morris from Maesteg. Melanie, who is in receipt of welfare benefits as a result of long-term health problems, experienced financial difficulty last year and built up £7,000 of debt. Melanie said:

“I got in touch with Rhondda Cynon Taff Citizens Advice Bureau after bailiffs visited my elderly parents’ home. They caused so much distress that my mother suffered an angina attack.

“That’s when I knew I needed help. CAB supported me and my family to challenge the bad practice of the bailiffs, and with support from a specialist debt advisor, I obtained aDebt Relief Order which cleared my debts in full.

“It’s a huge relief to be debt free and I now have the skills and knowledge to manage my finances well.”