Almost 200 people support in the first three months of Citizens Advice partnership

• 192 people in Yorkshire have so far benefitted from a Yorkshire Building Society and Citizens Advice pilot scheme where Citizens Advice advisers are available one or two days a week in branches to support members of the public with a range of issues, including financial well-being
• Yorkshire Building Society is the first UK financial services provider to offer this in person one-to-one service in six of its branches in a trial partnership with Citizens Advice
• The six Yorkshire Building Society branches running the pilot scheme are Barnsley, Castleford, Leeds, Rothwell, Wakefield and York

 

A Yorkshire Building Society and Citizens Advice first of its kind innovative partnership has already benefitted 192 people in Yorkshire in its first three months. that will initially pilot across six of the Society’s branches from 17 May 2021 for nine months.

The partnership is a pilot programme at six of the Society’s branches across the region with Yorkshire Building Society funding Citizens Advice advisers to hold free, confidential appointments at least one day a week.

The appointments, which are open to everyone in the community not only Yorkshire Building Society customers allow Citizens Advice advisers to offer independent advice in private meeting rooms to assist people with a wide range of issues, including financial well-being.

Adam Waterfall, branch manager at Yorkshire Building Society in Leeds, said:

As one of the branches taking part in our pilot programme it is great to be able to offer this support to both customers and non-customers in our local communities. In fact, about seven out of ten appointments so far have been with the general public. Since the beginning of our partnership with Citizens Advice, I have been genuinely shocked about some of the stories I have heard. The issues that some local people are facing daily are at times beyond belief and the scariest aspect for me is that often they have no support network or anywhere to turn for advice.

This programme forms part of £1million in additional investment in 2021 that the Society is using to help target those in its communities who need it most. I’ve witnessed first-hand how this partnership can really provide a lifeline for people to be able to have access to that vital support when they really need it.

Each appointment is up to 60 minutes long and can be booked directly by contacting a participating branch.

Dianne Lyons, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice Leeds, said:

This pilot will help more people get the advice they need, when and where they need it. We know that the pandemic has had a huge impact on the lives of many in our community. People are going to need our help as we begin on the road to recovery, and we urge anyone that needs support to get in touch with us.

The six Yorkshire Building Society branches running the pilot scheme are Barnsley, Castleford, Leeds, Rothwell, Wakefield and York.

For more information on this innovative partnership please visit www.ybs.co.uk/citizens-advice

All information correct at time of publication.

W45-21