Advice More Vital Than Ever

Published

27th June 2022

The work of Dundee advice agencies is “more vital than ever” to support people who are facing the harsh realities of the cost of living crisis as the city emerges from the pandemic.

Councillors are to consider a report outlining the city’s first Advice Strategy covering 2022-24, which details how the city council’s advice services are partnering with Brooksbank Centre and Services, Dundee Citizens Advice Bureau and SCARF to help improve outreach to individuals and families in need of help.

They will also be looking for more locally based advice agencies to commit to the advice strategy in the future.

The report explains that advice agencies in Dundee continue to see customers that present with insufficient income, face lower life expectancy and the prospect of higher household living costs. As communities emerge from the pandemic, with many of the impacts of lockdown, furlough and reduction in incomes yet to fully make themselves known, it is essential that mitigation services are in place to assist individuals to access the supports that they require.

Policy and resources convener Councillor John Alexander said:“The astonishing work that goes on to help people in Dundee and to direct them to lifeline funding and support is more vital than ever given the current cost of living crisis following the pandemic.”

Statistics show that Council Advice Services have seen a 12% increase in enquiries for advice in the last three months compared with the previous three.

Requests for fuel support have seen massive increases with Dundee CAB recording an 85% increase in requests for utilities support in April and May 2022, compared to a 62% average increase across Scottish CABs as a whole.

The success of two city Fuel Well schemes is highlighted as demonstrating the advantages of strong partnership working.

Depute policy & resources convener Councillor Willie Sawers added:“This new strategy builds on the strong partnership which has existed for a few years now between the council, Brooksbank, Dundee CAB and SCARF.

“I hope that they can attract more agencies in to give more help as people are experiencing real difficulties in getting by.

“I am proud of what has been achieved so far as it shows what a caring city we are. But we cannot underestimate the scale of the challenges we are facing.”

The policy & resources committee meets on Monday June 27.

Dundee City Council

Dundee draws skilled workers from a 60-minute catchment population of 640,000 and has a local population of over 140,000. The availability of a large pool of highly skilled labour is a key feature in the Dundee economy. Flexibility in the labour force is currently more prevalent in Dundee than in Scotland as a whole. All forms of labour market flexibility - part-time, temporary employment, self-employment and shift work - are widely operational within the city. Labour force stability in the city is excellent, enabling companies to plan with confidence. Labour turnover levels are less than 5% and absenteeism averages 2%.

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