Funding cut puts Citizens Advice branch at risk

A charity said its future is in doubt in part of Devon following cuts to its annual funding.

Citizens Advice Exeter, which offers help to people facing money, legal or other problems, said it would be reducing its services from October due to reduced staffing levels.

It said running costs had to be reduced after Exeter City Council cut funding for its local advice and information service from £200,000 per year to a one-off £75,000 grant.

The council said it had agreed to end the contract it had with Citizens Advice as "no funding was available".

Citizens Advice said it helped more than 6,000 people with 20,000 issues including benefits, debt, housing and employment during the 2023/24 period.

The charity, which operates from a council-owned building in Dixs Field, said the value of the time donated by its volunteers was worth more than £600,000.

With the cuts in funding and staffing, the charity said the number of people it would be able to help would be reduced by one-third.

The charity has issued an appeal for donations to help keep it going.

Sue Julyan, the branch's chief executive, said: "We're seeking funding to sustain a viable service for the people of Exeter and, without that, we have a very uncertain future."

The city council said it had given a contract to Citizens Advice to run an information advice and advocacy service since 2019.

A council spokesman said: "Earlier this year, the council agreed to end the information advice and advocacy contract as no funding was available."

It said Citizens Advice leased a premises from the council at a reduced rent and it had been offered shared space in the authority's customer contact centre, but this was rejected by the charity.

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