CITIZENS Advice Torridge, North, Mid and West Devon (TNMWD) has issued its Annual Impact Report covering April 2019 to March 2020.

The independent charity helped more than 2,200 clients in Mid Devon with over 3,000 issues helping people access more than £1.5 million of income they would not have otherwise accessed.

This is income that will largely be spent by people in the local area and has a demonstrable impact on their quality of life.

The report says 63 per cent of all advice given was on welfare, debt, housing and employment issues during 2019/20.

A total of 51 per cent of clients who received advice are disabled or have a long-term health condition.

Four in five of clients said the advice received had a positive impact on their lives and 70 per cent said they felt less stressed, depressed or anxious. Client feedback collected for the annual report includes: “The advice given made us feel confident that we would be able to resolve the problem completely. The time we were given and the consideration we were shown was second to none. The whole service is outstanding.”

Citizens Advice (TNMWD) has been part of the local community in one form or another since 1940.

The service is an independent charity and its offices in Mid Devon are located in The Town Hall, Tiverton and Old Landscore School (previously Earlybirds preschool), Crediton.

Citizens Advice TNMWD receives funding to part operate a generalist advice service from a grant given from Mid Devon District Council and Devon County Council (via Citizens Advice Devon).

It also receives regular donations from Tiverton Town Council, Crediton Town Council and Cullompton Town Council along with local Parish Councils.

Citizens Advice TNMWD continues to develop alternative funding streams including local fundraising which included a concert in Tiverton, an Open garden near Crediton and grant applications to local charitable trusts to ensure it can continue to help those who need it service.

Citizens Advice TNMWD chief executive Vicki Rowe said: “I wish to thank each and everyone of my team of volunteers and staff for their hard work and dedication for the clients we helped in Mid Devon over the last year. The results speak volumes for their continued commitment to helping those in the area with the problems they face.

"The number of clients we have helped and the income we have accessed for them to improve their lives has a hugely positive impact for them, their immediate families and the local community.

"We are hugely thankful to those who help fund our work in part and to the local community who volunteer and donate to ensure our service can continue.”