PRESS RELEASE

Media Contact: Phil Stewart  0300 303 4321 ext. 6131 or 07734487581

Dumfries and Galloway Citizens Advice Service launches action plan to continue an essential service that focuses and targets those who are most vulnerable in our region.

 Dumfries and Galloway Citizens Advice Service (DAGCAS) launches an action plan to continue running an essential service that focuses on those who are most in need across Dumfries and Galloway.  Local people need us now more than ever in these difficult times of uncertainty due to the Coronavirus outbreak. We are already experiencing higher demand for advice for those that have been made redundant or their hours have been drastically reduced and require advice, support or assistance for amongst other issues, applying for social security, managing rising debts and other employment related issues such as time off for child care.

DAGCAS has a duty of care to our clients, our staff, our volunteers and the public in complying with government guidance to help contain the spread of COVID-19. We have taken the difficult decision to stop all face to face contact with the public from Monday 23rd March 2020 across all our bureaus and outreach clinics. We will continue to deliver our services in a flexible manner to meet the needs of the most vulnerable our region. We will deliver an essential service that fully focuses its attentions on telephone, webchat and email enquiries.

These are unprecedented times for everyone, we will be here to help people navigate through these challenges that we are facing. DAGCAS offers independent, impartial, free advice to people in Dumfries and Galloway. We predict that employment, finance and benefits will be some of the top issues for which people come for help.

People can access our essential services:

• By telephone at 0300 303 4321 (Free from Landlines but from mobile may vary)
• By email,  fill out and send the enquiry form on our website at www.dagcas.org
• Universal Credit Help to Claim service at 0800 023 2581
• Money Talk Team at 0800 085 7145

Phil Stewart, DAGCAS Chief Executive says:

“Exceptional times requires exceptional people and Dumfries and Galloway Citizens Advice Service are here to assist those that need us most right now. To ensure that we are available to our clients and communities we are focusing all our efforts on telephone, webchat and email enquires where we can help make a real difference to the most vulnerable in our region during this time of unprecedented challenge.”

Notes

Phil Stewart is available for telephone interview by contacting him directly on any of the above numbers.

ENDS