Darllen yn y Gymraeg

During National Volunteers Week 2022 we’ve been celebrating the fantastic work and contributions of the many volunteers who work with us at Citizens Advice Gwynedd, and the positive impacts they’ve made in the local community.

As part of these celebrations we nominated our volunteers for a National Appreciation Certificate, and we are delighted to share their success in receiving these awards.

Godfrey Northam has been recognised for his outstanding dedication and loyalty in over 26 years of service, which has continued throughout the Covid pandemic. Godfrey has been a valued volunteer adviser, and has also represented all volunteers on our Trustee Board.

Dafydd Lewis was also able to accept a group award on behalf of all our volunteers who have continued to work tirelessly throughout the pandemic. Through the difficult and challenging turmoil of the last two years, the dedication and desire of all of our volunteers to make a difference to the many people who sought advice has been invaluable.

Our volunteers continue to make an immeasurable difference to the lives of people who come to Citizens Advice for help – thank you to each and every one of you!

Darllen yn Gymraeg

This is National Volunteers Week and we would like to thank our volunteers for their help so far this year.  In 2022 they have already supported 480 clients!  

Our volunteers support clients remotely and also from our offices in Caernarfon, Dolgellau, Bangor and Pwllheli.  They help our local community over the phone, via email and face-to-face.  They deal with a whole host of different issues and help clients to gain an understanding of their options and support them in making choices.  

One of our supervisors had this to say about one of our dedicated volunteers:  

“XXX is a dedicated volunteer, who even during the pandemic would call and check whether I was fit and well. He has been a volunteer for several years and I and the other staff greatly appreciate his refreshing humour and his continued loyalty in advising the local community.”

Our volunteers are dedicated, compassionate and empathetic.  They make a difference to clients’ lives each and every day.  We thank them all for their dedication and support, from all of us at Gwynedd Citizens Advice.

If you would be interested in joining our team, read more at cabgwynedd.wales/join-us

Cymraeg

The number of people on Universal Credit in Gwynedd has more than doubled since March last year to 8,712. We are concerned that in three months’ time the UK Government intends to end the £20 per week uplift in both Universal Credit and Working Tax Credit. This has made a real difference to families who are struggling and removing it could take over £8m out of the local economy, or more if claims go up which is all the more likely if the furlough scheme comes to an end before the economy is fully able to reopen.

We have written to Liz Saville Roberts and Hywel Williams urging them to make representations to the Chancellor to keep the uplift.

The BBC have written about this issue: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-55415873

Although times are hard for many of us, help is available. We are working closely with the various foodbanks in Gwynedd: we refer clients in desperate need to them and they refer clients to us so that we can help them with their underlying problems. Arfon and South Gwynedd Foodbanks have secured additional funding so we can ensure advisers are immediately available when needed. We are also working with colleagues across North Wales to provide advice on maximising income to people with mental health problems or at risk of developing mental health problems. The Welsh Government has provided additional funding to help us do this. If you know anyone who might benefit from this you can refer them using this link wherever in North Wales they live: cabgwynedd.wales/incomemax

Yn Gymraeg

Would you like to get more involved in public life and have an impact on the decisions that are made that affect you and your communities?

Please fill in the survey in this link for the third round.

 

Darllen yr erthygl yma yn y Gymraeg

Are you eligible to apply for the job opportunities with Gwynedd Citizens Advice? You could be gaining qualifications whilst in paid work. Please contact us for more information

Yn Cymraeg

There is a clear scientific consensus that the world faces a climate emergency. This emergency has the clear potential to adversely effect the living conditions, health and general well-being of the residents of Gwynedd and therefore goes to the heart of our charitable objectives.

It is therefore appropriate for us to publicise this emergency so that individuals and organisations are aware of the importance of taking action and take what steps we can to minimise the carbon footprint of the charity itself.

Citizens Advice has been contacted by the Insolvency Service regarding bankrupts being targeted by scammers.

Bankrupts are receiving letters or phone calls from Baddebtor.co.uk, apparently as a result of public information from The Gazette, asking them to pay a fee if they want the record of their bankruptcy removed from the scammers portals such as;

• Bad Debtor Platform,
• Local Newspapers,
• Facebook,
• LinkedIn,
• Supplier Database,
• Local banks,
• Credit Agencies,
• Social Network Portals.

They use the Insolvency Service’s online adjudicator’s reference, from the Gazette, which appears to make them believable. Adjudicators are going to warn people but if anyone comes across this can they report it to the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 040506 so that consumer complaints are available to Trading Standards.

This week is National Hate Crime Awareness Week

Spread love not hate is the message being spread this week across North Wales.

Communities in North Wales need to come together to tackle all forms of hate crime, as part of National Hate Crime Awareness Week which begins on 13th October 2018. Gwynedd Citizens Advice will be promoting ways on how to report Hate Crime by talking to groups in the community.

Hate Crime is on the rise and needs to be stopped. Crimes committed against someone because of their age, religion, gender identity, disability and sexual orientation are all Hate Crimes. It is important people can identify what a Hate Crime is and how to report it so that it can be stopped.

Gwynedd Citizens Advice can assist with helping people report Hate Crimes and help with identifying what Hate Crime is.

Tal Michael, CEO of Gwynedd Citizens Advice said:

‘If you witness any Hate Crime please report it. It is vital that Hate Crimes are reported to put an end to Hate Crime. North Wales is a place open for everyone no matter who they are and where they come from. This campaign is a fabulous opportunity to promote how Hate Crime can be reported and most importantly identifying when Hate Crime happens’

Hate Crime can also be reported to Stop Hate UK

Phone: 0800 138 1625 
Text: 07717 989 025 
Email: talk@stophateuk.org
Web Chat: www.stophateuk.org/talk
Text Relay, for the deaf and hearing / speech impaired callers: 18001 0800 138 1625

“Don’t struggle in silence”, says local Citizens Advice in North Wales

Our network of local Citizens Advice in North Wales helped over 4,400 people with problems related to Personal Independence Payments (PIP) last year.

PIP is a benefit that helps people to meet the extra costs of being disabled or having a long term health condition. For example it allows them to employ a carer who can help them get washed and dressed in the mornings, or to have a mobility scooter so they can travel to work.

Most people who contacted us across North Wales about PIP wanted help to:

● Make a claim or check their eligibility
● Challenge the outcome of their assessment decision
● Take their appeal to tribunal

In one example, Citizens Advice helped a man with multiple long-term health conditions who after moving from DLA to PIP, was receiving less benefit. He contacted the charity for assistance with a PIP appeal where it was also worked out he was entitled to Pension Credit. Citizens Advice helped him make the claim which helped to ease the burden of the reduction in the disability benefit.

As detailed in the report, in total last year, Citizens Advice Wales helped more than 100,000 people resolve their problems. PIP problems were the most common advice issue for the charity with 17,000 people seeking its help.

The top three issues reported to local Citizens Advice in North Wales in 2017/18 were:

1. Benefits and tax credits – 14,854
2. Debt – 7,261
3. Employment – 3,385

Fran Targett, Director of Citizens Advice Cymru, said:

“No one else sees so many people with so many different kinds of problems and that gives us unique insight into the challenges people are facing today.”

“A wrong PIP assessment decision can lead to people missing out on the everyday support they need. The daily reality of living with a disability can often be overlooked during the PIP assessment so it’s important that people know they can try to overturn this decision by asking for a reconsideration or appealing their case at tribunal.”

“Don’t struggle in silence. The Welsh Government currently funds quality-assured, specialist welfare benefit advice across Wales and we’re here to help.”

“Anyone who wants to make a PIP appeal, or has a more general query about the benefit, should contact their local Citizens Advice to understand their next steps.”

Background

Our network of Local Citizens Advice in North Wales cover the local authority areas of Ynys Môn, Gwynedd, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham.

The charities run face-to-face sessions, as well as a phone helpline to make it easier for people to access its free and impartial advice service.

Anyone in Gwynedd requiring advice or support can contact the local Adviceline on 0345 450 3064.

It is also possible to get help online at www.citizensadvice.org.uk or find their local Citizens Advice office.

There is also a dedicated phone line for consumer issues on 03454 04 05 06. For Welsh speaking advisers dial 03454 04 05 05.