Advice service still helping South Tyneside residents 50 years on

From left, CEO Ian Thompson, volunteer Rebecca Elsy and chair Keith Palmer.

Volunteers from South Tyneside Citizens Advice Bureau will join the deputy Mayor Coun Ken Stephenson to mark the half century milestone.

For the past five decades the service has provided advice to residents on a range of issues including debt, welfare, immigration and housing.

Despite funding being cut, they are continuing to see record numbers of people who come through their doors looking for help.

The CAB is currently funded through Money Advice Service, Big Lottery, local government and the Tudor Trust.

CAB Chief Executive Ian Thompson said: “In the last few years the number of clients we have seen has risen, from 10,529 in 2014 to 12,741 in the last financial year.

“This averages around 255 people a week.

“Of those 80% of the issues are related to welfare benefits and debt.”

He added: “In 1966, when we first opened the doors, debt and welfare were the biggest issues but they were never on the scale they are now.”

It is thought the changes in the welfare reform has led to the increase of people needing help while the debt people are finding themselves in is no longer due to credit cards or loans but through being unable to afford rent and council tax.

Last year, volunteers handled 2,000 new debt client cases and 1,000 bankruptcies.

While they have helped to claim millions for people since the CAB was launched just over 50 years ago.

Mr Thompson said: “The number of clients we are seeing year on year is rising, but the funding we receive is reducing year on year, We are always having to work hard and find new ways in which to deliver the service.

“The service is still very much needed today as it has ever been and we have lots of case studies where we have helped people to claim thousands of pounds in backdated benefit claims against the government.”

Other issues dealt with by the CAB include housing, finances, utilities, education, relationships and employment with 82% of all tribunals dealt with by citizens advice.

The service returns a 96% client satisfaction rate with people saying their health and wellbeing had been improved and their finances.

For details on the CAB visit southtynecab.net