A FUNDING boost for Clacks Citizens Advice Bureau will allow the service to extend their outreach to more people impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Outreach and Volunteer Development, two of their essential services, have received funding.

As the bureau adapts its services to the local advice demand in the recovery from the pandemic, these were two priority areas that were identified.

Thanks to the Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund administered by Clacks CTSI, the bureau are able to extend their outreach and home visiting service to reach more people impacted by the pandemic.

William Bell, outreach coordinator, said: “The impact of Covid-19 on our community’s physical, mental and financial wellbeing has been devastating.

“This funding will allow us to provide more dedicated support to assist people experiencing vulnerability, focusing on increasing household incomes and ensuring people are in receipt of the support available to them through working with local services.

“We currently provide weekly outreach services in partnership with six local organisations at their venues and provide limited home visiting.

“We have two general advice drop-in advice clinics each week: one in Alva at the Cochrane Hall every Wednesday from 2pm until 4pm and in Tullibody at the Tullibody Civic Centre every Thursday from 1pm until 3pm.

“We also have weekly advice sessions for service users at Reachout With Arts in Mind, Homestart, Hawkhill Community Centre and Clackmannanshire Carers Centre.”

The bureau are also able to continue their Volunteer Development Programme thanks to the Robertson Trust.

The programme provides training, support and mentoring to volunteer advisers with volunteers at the heart of Clacks CAB and their support and hard work is vital for the delivery of Clacks CAB general advice services.

Gillian Burgan, volunteer coordinator, said: “We are delighted to have received funding from Robertson Trust to continue our Volunteer Development Programme.

“This programme is vital for our advice services and ensuring that our local community continue to receive free, confidential and impartial advice that they can trust.

“In 2020-21, we provided advice to over 3,000 local residents and we would have been unable to do that without our volunteers.

“This funding will also allow us to increase volunteering opportunities for people who have previously used our services.”

The next volunteer training programme begins on Monday, January 17.

Anyone who is interested can visit clackscab.org.uk/volunteer or call 01259 219 404 for more information.

The Clacks CAB’s advice line is open between 10am and 3pm every weekday.