Charity helps more people in lockdown

Newtown's Citizen Advice Bureau has helped more people with financial support help than usual during the coronavirus situation.

Powys Citizens Advice has also dealt with more employment issues than normal due to many people being furloughed or losing their jobs.

The details have been published in a report to Newtown Town Council's Resources Committee.

Staff and volunteers at the Citizens Advice, which has offices in Ladywell House, have and continue to work from home but are still undertaking the same work.

"During this period we have seen a large increase in the number of Benefit Appeals being dealt with. Therefore we have been able to close many appeal cases that have been active for a long period of time," the report states.

"This quarter we have successfully closed 28 client cases.  Of the 28 closed 19 cases were successful welfare benefits cases, with annualized benefits of £84,501 obtained for clients."

Citizens Advice based in Newtown helps people throughout Powys.

"This quarter, Covid 19 lockdown restrictions have meant that we cannot deliver face to face services.

"Our advisers are all set up and working from home providing a full advice and casework service via the telephone.

"For this project we are maintaining the same service delivery day and appointment structure, providing consistency for our adviser and clients."

The report added: "Under normal circumstances we find that vulnerable clients prefer face to face appointments, however, our vulnerable clients are more anxious in this current pandemic and do not want to put themselves at risk in anyway and prefer to remain in the comfort and security of their own homes.

"Because of CV19 we are reviewing all operations on a weekly basis and being flexible in our approach to meeting the changing client demands and restrictions in our service delivery platforms."