Fundraising appeal launches to help more people in Cornwall amid cost of living crisis
Citizens Advice Cornwall is facing a huge demand on services and bosses say resources are stretched
A fundraising appeal has been launched to help more people across Cornwall as the cost of living crisis deepens.
Citizens Advice Cornwall is facing a huge demand on services and bosses say resources are stretched.
The charity is asking for donations after supporting over 9,000 people in the Duchy last year.
Chief Executive, Gill Pipkin, said: “As a charity facing huge demand on our services at present, our resources are extremely stretched. We want to help more people and can only do this with more funds.
“We are asking our community to support us with whatever can be spared so that those most in need can get help. Every pound donated allows us to train and support advisers to be there and by giving to us regularly, we can plan and maintain our services more effectively.”
Last year, Citizens Advice Cornwall helped thousands of people with almost 40,000 issues, helped write-off debt worth a total of over £1 million and gain income worth more than £8.1 million.
Community Fundraising Manager, Tamsin Chapman-Gunner, said: “We’re only able to provide this service with the support of the public and grant giving organisations, whose donations enable us to continue our work.
“As a Cornish charity, we rely heavily on people’s generosity. This campaign will help us to grow our services further.”
Citizens Advice Cornwall provides free, independent and confidential advice on a wide range of subjects for everyone in the community, including benefits, debt, housing, relationship issues, employment and redundancy, consumer, legal issues and more.
It costs Citizens Advice Cornwall around £1.5m to run the service each year, a figure that is set to rise as the need for help increases.
The money goes towards helping people like Donna, who came to Citizens Advice Cornwall for help.
She said: “Your service has been a lifeline to me throughout this process. The work carried out by Emily on my witness statement was considerable; the advice given about how to complete documents and advice on content was invaluable. The lengths you have gone to help me acquire a barrister, however slim the chance, are immeasurable to me.
“The whole process has effectively brought me to my knees - there has been hurdle after hurdle to overcome and it is incessant. The fact that your service is available to people like me, who would otherwise be entirely on their own, is absolutely a lifeline.
“I wouldn't have got this far, without your advice and services. I am utterly grateful for the part you and your team have played in the attempt to keep my children safe. You are all heroes to us, the downtrodden and cast aside.”
Anyone wishing to support the charity can visit the website at https://citizensadvicecornwall.org.uk/support-us/ and download a sign-up form or via Just Giving at https://justgiving.com/campaign/regulargiving.