Advisers’ £132m windfall for Scots

Citizens Advice centres across Scotland generated more than £132 million for people in the last year, according to new figures.

Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS), which oversees 59 bureaux, says one in six people who sought financial advice during 2021/22 saw a financial gain, with the average amount equalling £4,200.

The network helped more than 174,500 people with almost 640,500 issues, with more than 2.4 million users logged in to self-help website Advice in Scotland.

As the cost of living crisis intensifies, and energy bills and mortgage costs rise, people have been urged to continue to seek support in the coming weeks.

CAS chief executive Derek Mitchell said: “The cost of living crisis is pushing household budgets to breaking point and it is really easy to feel scared or alone when you see the bills pile up and your income drop. What we want people to understand is that help is out there for people from the Citizens Advice network.

“Our advisers deliver real results, with one in six people seeing a financial gain, the average value of which is over £4,200.

“Last year we helped over 174,000 across the Citizens Advice network with over 2.4 million people checking our online advice pages. You can get advice in a way that suits you, whether that is face to face, over the phone or online.

“We are for everyone regardless of background and circumstance, and we don’t judge, we just help.”