DUMFRIES and Galloway Citizens Advice Service (DGCAS) have secured £8 million of funding to help the local economy.
The announcement by the organisation coincides with the release of their annual report covering 2022-23, which was the organisation’s 25th anniversary.
It details the goings-on at DGCAS over the last year, such as the extension of their outreach services, the support of nearly 8500 clients with nearly 40,000 issues and debt valued at £6.5 million.
All in all, the work DGCAS did put £8,110,000 back into their client’s pockets and the local economy.
CEO Phil Stewart said: “We are tremendously proud to have put over £8,000,000 back into the pockets of local people and into the economy of Dumfries and Galloway.
“Last year marked our 25th anniversary and the report shows what a busy year it was for us.
“It demonstrates how the demand for our services continues to grow, as the cost of living crisis really begins to bite for many local people and how we are evolving to meet those demands, especially for rural communities.
“We’ve extended our outreach services and continue to expand methods of remote access for clients, so they don’t need to visit our bureaux in person.”
Marsali Caig, chair of DGCAS, added: “I am delighted with our annual report as it showcases the work of our service. It is a testament to our staff, volunteers and partners how we continually meet these challenges.
“We must ensure, however, that we keep up with the demand and pace of change, finding new ways of engaging with communities, funders and partners to increase our reach, ensuring we deliver our service in the right way, at the right time.
“Our essential service is a lifeline for many local people experiencing hardship. I would like to publicly thank our many funders for their support in enabling us to support our clients.”
For more information, visit the DGCAS website here.
