13 Jan CITIZENS ADVICE CORNWALL LAUNCHES NEW SERVICE FOR PEOPLE IN BUDE

Citizens Advice Cornwall is opening a new service in Bude to meet the growing demand for help with energy bills, debt advice, benefits and other inquiries.

The charity’s new face-to-face service will take place at the Neetside Community Centre on the third Tuesday of the month between 10.30am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 3.30pm. No appointments are needed.

Citizens Advice Cornwall Chief Executive, Gill Pipkin, said:

“After an absence of several years while we tried to find suitable premises and funding, we’re now delighted to be re-opening a face-to-face service in Bude.

“We know that demand for help in the town and surrounding North Cornwall area is high and this will save people who need to see us from a long journey to the nearest Citizens Advice offices in Liskeard or Bodmin.”

The new service has been made possible with a £10,000 grant from the Blanchminster Trust.

In the year to September 2022, Citizens Advice Cornwall helped 90 people from Bude with their problems over the phone.

Citizens Advice Advisor, Kremena Whiting, said:

“Although people can access advice over the phone or webchat, there are many who need face-to-face contact with an adviser, especially if they are vulnerable, don’t cope well with phone conversations or have complex issues to discuss.

“That’s why we really wanted to re-establish our service to people in Bude and the North Cornwall area to help them overcome the issues confronting them.”

Citizens Advice Cornwall also operates a text service, where members of the public can text ADVICE to 78866 and receive a call back from an advisor within 10 working days.