Local County Councillors have secured a grant of £2,800 for Citizens Advice Mid Mercia to buy equipment so Adviceline volunteers can assist local people during the Covid-19 crisis.

Councillors Stuart Swann (Swadlincote South Division), Linda Chilton (Melbourne) and Gary Musson (Swadlincote Central) pooled resources from Derbyshire County Council’s Members’ Leadership Scheme to provide the grant.

Stuart Swann said, “This grant will help Citizens Advice provide its volunteers with laptops and mobile phones, enabling them to answer more calls from people in our local community and assist with a wide range of issues.

“Citizens Advice Mid Mercia, which is based here in Church Gresley, works to give people in need the knowledge and confidence they require to find their way forward whatever their problem. 

“Helping local people to tackle the issues they are facing at an early stage, rather than waiting until they reach crisis point, and improving their wellbeing is something my colleagues and I were keen to assist with.” 

Citizens Advice has seen an unprecedented increase in demand for its Adviceline during the lockdown and needs to equip its highly skilled and trained Adviceline volunteers with laptops and mobile phones to enable them to work remotely while support local people.