20 Dec Lifeline Grant to Help People in Cornwall Overcome Their Problems

Citizens Advice Cornwall has received a grant of £10k from the Garfield Weston Foundation to support its valuable work providing a lifeline for people.

News of the grant comes as Citizens Advice expands to reach more people in the county and is helping tackle some of the major issues impacting people’s lives.

Citizens Advice Cornwall Chief Executive, Gill Pipkin, said:

“This grant from Garfield Weston will help build a solid infrastructure to support and maintain a high level of service to everyone in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, whether they need help with benefits, debts, housing, employment issues, relationship breakdowns or consumer problems.

“Lockdown has put increased strain on people’s personal finances and relationships and we are seeing this in rising numbers seeking help and support in the county.

“The rising cost of living, rising rents, withdrawal of the Universal Credit Uplift and higher energy costs are all having an impact on people and this grant will help our charity expand to meet these growing challenges.”

Since January 2021, Citizens Advice Cornwall has supported 8,700 people, gaining a total of £6.8 million in income and writing-off debts in excess of £1 million.

Established over 60 years ago in 1958, the Garfield Weston Foundation is a family-founded, grant-making charity which supports causes across the UK and, in the most recent financial year, gave over £98 million. Since it was established, it has exceeded donations of more than £1.2 billion, of which well over half has been given in the past ten years.

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NOTES TO EDITORS:

One of the most respected charitable institutions in the UK, the Weston Family Trustees are descendants of the founder and they take a highly active and hands-on approach. The Foundation’s funding comes from an endowment of shares in the family business which includes Twinings, Primark, Kingsmill (all part of Associated British Foods Plc) and Fortnum & Mason, amongst others – a successful model that still endures today; as the businesses have grown, so too have the charitable donations.

Known for its transparency, flexibility and straightforward approach, the Foundation supports a broad range of charities from small community organisations to large national institutions. Around 2,000 charities across the UK benefit each year from the Foundation’s grants.