Dumfries and Galloway Citizens Advice Service (DGCAS) are delighted to have been awarded funding from the Blackcraig Wind Farm Community Fund administered by Foundation Scotland in partnership with Glenkens & District Trust. This award will enable them to provide a weekly outreach service on general welfare and debt advice in the Glenkens over the next two years.
Following some consultation and surveys in May, DGCAS identified that many residents in the Glenkens area who could benefit from advice and support were not able to get the help they needed. Even the weekly advice service already provided by DGCAS in Castle Douglas doesn’t fill the gap as that is still 16 miles away from St John’s Town of Dalry and 25 miles from Carsphairn.
And with rising costs of fuel and energy hitting those from rural areas such as Glenkens particularly hard, DGCAS knew that people are not reaching out for support at a time when they may need it more than ever. And although DGCAS now offers a phone and online service, the consultation work showed that many people, especially those who are older, prefer to see someone in person.
The grant will enable DGCAS to provide a face-to-face outreach clinic once a week for the next two years at community venues in the Glenkens, providing generalist welfare and debt advice and signposting to other sources of help and support. In addition, DGCAS will promote the outreach service through an active programme of community engagement that will ensure people know about the service and are able to use it. Initial fortnightly sessions are scheduled in New Galloway at the Catstrand with additional locations being considered.
In making this award Fiona Smith, Chair of Glenkens & District Trust said
“We are acutely aware of the demands on organisations and people across our area to address the current cost-of-living crisis. We wanted to provide targeted funding to a body who could provide specialist support and advice and were pleased to receive the application from DGCAS with a project to address the issues. We look forward to working with DGCAS on this important work.”In receiving this award Phil Stewart, CEO of DGCAS said,
“Our objective in growing our service reach into the Glenkens is to ensure that no one is left behind when it comes to accessing the advice, support and assistance that they need during these very challenging times. We find that living in a rural location often exacerbates the issues they face. This valuable piece of funding from Glenkens & District Trust will enable us to deliver a service where and when it is needed to the benefit of the community.”
