10 Mar CITIZENS ADVICE HELP HUB LAUNCHES IN CAMELFORD

Citizens Advice is launching a Help Hub service in Camelford as part of a major new project to make its service more accessible to more people in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

Following experience gained during the coronavirus lockdown – when all nine Citizens Advice offices in the area had to close to visitors – the charity is installing new computers at Help Hub locations across the county, including The Old Bank Community Hub, Market Place in Camelford.

CA Cornwall Chief Executive, Gill Pipkin, said:

 “During lockdown, we successfully dealt with a large volume of inquiries over the phone and via webchat, so we will continue to provide this service.

“We recognise some people will not have the resources to use phones or computers at home so we’re installing computers at various locations, including Camelford, where people can have face-to-face online meetings in secure, confidential rooms.

“Trained staff at these Help Hub venues will be able to make the booking and show people how to use the computers.”

The Help Hub is running as a pilot scheme and the project in Camelford has been kindly funded by Camelford Town Council.

The new emphasis on phone and web advice acknowledges the way many people prefer to communicate now and will reduce the need for people to queue-up outside the offices to see an adviser.

Appointments via the Camelford Help Hub computer can be made by texting ADVICE DIGITAL to 78866 or talking to staff at one of the remote locations.

For other inquiries, members of the public can access Citizens Advice by texting ADVICE to 78866 and we’ll call back within two working days. For debt advice, text ADVICE DEBT to 78866. Members of the public can also call free on 0800-144-8848 Mondays to Fridays 10am to 4pm.