Citizens Advice in Southwest Overwhelmed by Demand, Turning Away Clients

A charitable organization providing complimentary guidance on legal and financial matters has reported difficulty managing the volume of individuals utilizing its services in the southwest region. Citizens Advice (CA) in Devon indicated it was experiencing an unprecedented volume of inquiries. The organization reported handling 32,000 inquiries during the previous year, an increase from 30,000 recorded in the year preceding the Covid pandemic. This charity stated that this situation aligns with a nationwide pattern indicating a steady rise in the need for CA services following the Covid lockdowns. In Cornwall, approximately 8,000 inquiries were processed last year, in contrast to around 7,000 before the pandemic. Jed Westcott, who serves as a team leader at the Okehampton branch, stated that they frequently face an overwhelming level of demand. He commented: “We are having to turn people away, we are having to say to people that we can’t help them and that is tough on us.” “It’s tough on our advisors, our volunteers and staff members when we have more people coming through the door than we can help.” “I think there are more and more issues and a lot of it is coming from the cost-of-living crisis.” Mr. Westcott observed that individuals were “struggling to make ends meet.” He added: “We are seeing that in more and more applications for benefits that people previously didn’t apply for or are now eligible for.” Wailim Wong, a communications officer for Citizen’s Advice, noted that the southwest region encounters specific difficulties. He stated: “We have the issues with low wages, seasonal work and high house prices, that’s what makes Devon and Cornwall a bit different from some other parts of the country. ” “Employment opportunities through the year just aren’t there with higher paying jobs, people are still catching up from lockdown when they couldn’t work. ” “A lot of it has to do with inflation as well, and the general economic conditions.” Helen Donnellan, a volunteer at CA in Okehampton and Tavistock for a period of seven years, described the demand as unprecedented. She remarked: “It just gets more and more, heavier and heavier and more complex cases. ” “I think that means we are more and more needed and I think that it is reflected because there are so few places now where people can go to get free advice that can be trusted.” The charitable organization has requested public patience while it addresses the heightened demand and encouraged anyone interested in volunteering to reach out to their nearest branch. For updates, follow BBC Cornwall and BBC Devon on X, Facebook, and Instagram. Story ideas can be submitted to spotlight@bbc.co.uk. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding its external linking policy is available.