A regional advice service has responded to a funding cut in the latest local authority approved budget by predicting £2million less will go back into the public’s pockets in Dumfries and Galloway in the next year.
Dumfries and Galloway Citizens Advice Service will be hit by a 20 per cent reduction in its budget from the council after the latest budget was agreed this week.
Phil Stewart, the organisation’s CEO, said the cut could only be described as devastating.
“It is very difficult to understand why a council would cut a service that brings money into the region and supports those that are most in need given our discussions with them over the past four months about the impact of any loss or cuts,” he added.
The organisation had been at risk of losing its entire support from the local authority but this was reduced to a fifth this coming year, with the potential for the same cut over the following two years.
The CEO will meet council officials on 18th March to discuss the cuts further but the reduction means they will need to make some “painful decisions over the coming months” through reshaping the current service.
“It will unfortunately mean the loss of experienced, capable and dedicated staff,” Phil said.
Based upon the organisation’s most recent figures, the cut during a full financial year would mean:
- 1600 less clients being supported through 8000 less issues;
- £2million less being put back into clients pockets;
- £1.7million less in unmanageable debt we cannot support
Phil said: “It will undoubtedly impact on those that need our support to get the help they need for housing, benefits, debt, energy, employment matters. I have absolutely no doubt that it will negatively impact families and the most vulnerable.
“This equates to a loss of economic and social value to the region of £2.25 million in this financial year and £9.05 million in each of the subsequent two years.”
CEO Phil Stewart
“While we are of course disappointed to find our funding has been reduced by 20% we will continue to do what we always do and explore new and innovative ways to tackle poverty and protect vulnerable people across the region.
“We are also hugely appreciative of the support we’ve received from the public and the media. We would like to say a big thank you to everyone who signed our petition, shared our social media posts, sent us supportive messages, wrote to their councillors and completed the budget consultation, letting the Council know how valuable our lifeline services are.
“We hope now that we can move forward in shaping our service to best benefit the people of the region and concentrate on what we do best, helping those in need. To do this we now need more volunteers to ensure that no one is left behind. I would urge anyone listening or reading this to consider volunteering. You would be supporting the most vulnerable in our society. It is incredibly rewarding, gives you great skills and social interaction and saves lives”.