Citizen Advice Bureaus across the region have put more than £18.1 million back into the hands of the public, it claimed ahead of its annual conference starting today.
More than 100 staff and volunteers from Citizen’s Advice Bureaus (CABS) across north Scotland are meeting in Strathpeffer for an annual Highland Gathering.
Delegates from Caithness, Sutherland, Ross and Cromarty, Inverness, Badenoch and Strathspey, Skye and Lochalsh, Nairn and Lochaber, as well as members from offices in Moray and Turriff will discuss financial health checks, warm homes, social security and child poverty .
The conference comes as the eight Highland CABs announced its annual figures showing it had helped 18,000 clients last year and put a total of £18.3 million back in their pockets – in the form of unclaimed benefits, compensation and other financial gains they were able to make on their behalf.
Gathering organiser, Ross and Cromarty CAB are manager Mary MacDonald, said: “This is the ninth Highland CAB gathering, and I’m delighted that all eight Highland CABs will be attending, as well as our colleagues in Moray and Turriff.
“This event is all about developing stronger links with each other, as well as with external agencies. By working together we can strengthen the service we offer to the people we serve.
“We have calculated the total amount of client financial gain that the eight Highland CABs delivered last year was £18.3 million.
“That money was gained case-by-case for our individual clients and in each case it helps those families enormously, and as they then spend the money, it is put back into the Highland economy.
“We have found over the years that delegates enjoy this event, the opportunity to learn and network with one another.
“In the years the event has run it has grown each time and continues to get 100% positive feedback from delegates as well as useful ideas about changes to make for the following year.
“The gathering is a great example of genuine partnership working.
