Cash boost for Citizens Advice from Sizewell fund

A citizens advice service has said a £170,000 donation would allow it to expand its team of volunteers to meet increased demand.

Citizen Advice East Suffolk (CAES) is one of nine groups to benefit from the first tranche of money given out by the Sizewell C community fund.

Chiara Saunders, the branch's chief executive, said it had been given the cash after demonstrating the construction of the nuclear power plant would lead to more people coming forward to use its services.

She told BBC Radio Suffolk: "We are already under pressure from the current demand and what's really important to us is that with Sizewell coming, we don't end up not being able to serve people whose problems aren't Sizewell-related."

The £170,000 grant, to be made available across three years, should allow the service to support more than 100 volunteers, up from about 85 currently.

An investment decision on the proposed power station at Sizewell has still not been made but some preparatory work has been underway.

The official cost has been put at £20bn and the project will be partly funded by French energy company EDF.

Ms Saunders added: "Sizewell is going to bring a lot of challenges but also a lot of opportunities for the local area.

"There will be more jobs but, following on from that, you're going to have people approaching with queries, about 'how does this work, am I entitled to holiday pay, should I have been made redundant'?"

A total of £300,000 is being given out in this round of donations.

Other groups to benefit include the Leiston Youth and Community Angling Society, Young People Taking Action, Aldeburgh Jubilee Hall, Saxmundham and District CIC and Slaughden Sailing Club.

Julia Pyke, Sizewell C's joint managing director, said: “These are groups and organisations that make a significant difference to communities in this region and it’s deeply rewarding to know that the fund will enable them to enhance and extend the great work they do here."

In total the fund will give out £23 million in the next 10 years.

Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.