·¬ÇÑÊÓƵapp

Jen Broadhurst, ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵapp Citizens Advice Bureau

Jen Broadhurst highlighted that ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵapp Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) have been very busy and have supported just under 800 clients in the last 3 months with 370 of those being new to the bureau with the majority being in relation to welfare rights. Of those clients 218 were provided with welfare rights support, 41 were supported to access digital, food or fuel crisis funding.

Jen added that the overall client financial gain, generated from the advice provided was just under £360,000 with 78% of the funding being generated by Welfare Rights.

Jen also provided information on other areas such as the new data hub which provides statistical data on the range of clients that they support across the region; debt advice; the Armed Services advice project which has been extended until the end of the year; energy advice; the adviser training programme; the cost of care research; the updating of the Bureau’s business plan and the wellbeing networking event which is to be held on the 13^th September.

Catriona Petit, Hope Kitchen

Catriona highlighted that Hope Kitchen had been working in partnership with West Highland Housing Association and ALIenergy by providing a space for clients to come in and receive housing and energy advice.Ìý Hope Kitchen will also be hosting a fund raiser Grand Quiz at the Corran Halls on 16^th September 2023, all partners are welcome to attend.

Judith Hawcroft, North Argyll Carers

Judith highlighted that the North Argyll Carers are supporting 817 unpaid carers, 150 of which are young carers.Ìý Referrals are coming in thick and fast and that staff are working at capacity to ensure referrals are dealt with as they come in. Judith advised that the carer vacancy on Tiree had been filled, but that the post on Coll remains vacant. During the summerÌý 22 young carers were taken to the Young Carers Festival, where they had the opportunity to relax and enjoy being children and shrug off their responsibility for a while.

and enjoy being children and shrug off their responsibility for a while.

Ryan MacIntyre, Scottish Youth Parliament

Ryan advised that the International Overdose Day was held and filmed in Dunoon and that this would be shared with partners and elections are scheduled with partners encouraged to share information with the young people they work with.