Citizens Advice Northumberland launched its Impact Report 2021/22 at its Annual General
Meeting (AGM) in November at Newbiggin’s Community Hub.
Jamie Driscoll, Mayor of the North of Tyne Combined Authority, was the keynote speaker at the
event.
In the last year Citizens Advice Northumberland has seen more people coming to it for help
with crisis support, energy problems and not having enough money to make ends meet than
ever before.
The report sets out how Citizens Advice responded to the huge demand for its services in
2021/22, and its plans for the year ahead. The theme for this year’s AGM is ‘Collaborating to
create change’, as partnership is vitally important in current circumstances.
Abi Conway, chief executive of Citizens Advice Northumberland, said: “This has been a
demanding year for many people living and working across Northumberland. It is rewarding
to see the positive impact of Citizens Advice work on local people’s lives. We are committed
to finding new ways of supporting people, and extending our reach to ensure anyone in
need, however remote the location, can benefit from our services when they need them.”
Elected Metro Mayor for the North of Tyne, Jamie Driscoll, said: “Fuel poverty. Energy bills.
Welfare benefits issues. Housing problems. Not having enough money to make ends meet.
Advice and campaigning on these matters have never been more needed. So hats off to the
staff and volunteers at Citizens Advice Northumberland. They’re doing invaluable work,
helping thousands of people through these most difficult of times.”
There are nine Citizens Advice locations across Northumberland in Alnwick, Ashington,
Berwick, Blyth, Hexham, Prudhoe, Morpeth, Amble and Cramlington. During the pandemic
the service was mostly provided by Northumberland Adviceline, but now each centre is busy
with face-to-face meetings. The freephone and local telephone adviceline helplines are still
important ways in which people continue to receive support from the charity.
Citizens Advice Northumberland’s staff and trained volunteers provide advice on any issue
they are presented with; however, the primary advice needs are welfare benefits, housing,
debt and money advice, employment, fuel poverty, energy efficiency, family and personal
matters, taxes, immigration, health and education, consumer and discrimination issues.
There are over 100 people volunteering in a range of roles to support the charity’s 82 paid
staff across the county.
