Perth Citizens Advice Bureau
Support Type:
Need supported:
- Accommodation / Homelessness
- Financial Inclusion
- Mental Health
- Military Veterans
- Older People
- Short-term Prisoners
- Women
- Young People
Aim/Purpose:
We provide free, confidential and independent advice and support throughout Perth and Kinross. Our clients cover all ages, family and income types. Our key areas of advice each year are Benefits, Debt, Energy costs and arrears and Housing (although we also provide advice on dealing with employment, family, legal, immigration and consumer issues).
Our holistic wrap-around approach ensures that we investigate both the presenting issue alongside in-depth discussion to identify any other issues which may be contributing to this issue and/or the client’s overall situation. Clients are informed of all actions available to them and choose which works best for them. We can them support them to act on their own behalf or assist with phone calls, form filling, challenging decisions etc as requested by the client.
In addition to our strong Generalist team of Advisors, we have Debt and Energy Teams whose advisors hold additional subject-related qualifications. We train and support in excess of 20 volunteers per year to provide advice alongside paid staff who make up our Core team and staff our individual projects. Through our work we report Social Policy issues to Citizens Advice Scotland who collate Scotland wide issue to present to Government.
Suitability criteria:
- All genders
- All ages
Assessment/referral process:
- Any agency, Self-referral
Clients of all demographics are welcome to seek advice and support from Perth CAB We have access to live translation services for non-native English speakers and can offer telephone, email, in-person or home visits dependent on client preference.
Clients can self-refer or any agency working with them can refer by phone or email. Freephone 0808 196 9440 (Mon – Fri. 10 – 3) puts clients through to trained Advisors for an initial triage call. If able to assist immediately they will do so. If not, a call back (typically within 1-2 days) will be arranged with a relevant specialist advisor. Clients recognised as being in crisis will be prioritised.
Emails can be sent at any time by the client or a referrer. Go to www.perthcab.org.uk/contact-us Emails are responded to on a daily basis Monday to Friday, by trained advisors.