A Yorkshire Building Society and Citizens Advice first of its kind innovative partnership has already benefited more than 1,000 people.
The programme commits Yorkshire Building Society to fund Citizens Advice advisers to hold free, confidential appointments at least one day a week across 18 branches until March 2023.
Leeds West MP and Shadow Chancellor, Rachel Reeves visited the Leeds branch of Yorkshire Building Society to talk about the partnership.
She said: “It was great to visit the Yorkshire Building Society branch in Leeds and learn how this innovative partnership between the Society and Citizens Advice has been providing people in Leeds with much needed face to face support from Citizens Advice advisors.
“It is a fantastic example of a mutual organisation and a charity working in tandem to address pressing needs in their communities.”
The appointments are open to everyone not only Yorkshire Building Society customers. The Citizens Advice advisers offer independent advice in private meeting rooms to assist people with a wide range of issues, including financial well-being.
Adam Waterfall, Branch Manager for Yorkshire Building Society in Leeds, said: “The current cost of living crisis including energy price increases, fuel price rises, and general inflationary pressures is bringing to a head issues that many people are facing around financial wellbeing.
“That is why our partnership with Citizens Advice is so important in being able to increase the offering of support that both organisations can offer to those in need in our communities. Together we’ve already been able to support more than 1,000 people in our communities across Yorkshire and the North West and we hope to reach many more.”
“Last year we committed to enhance existing initiatives and establish new schemes to help people of all ages and stages of life improve their financial wellbeing, and this programme forms part of a £1.84m investment that we have put into those purposeful activities in 2021 and 2022.”
Of the 1,002 people assisted through the partnership, more than 3 in 5 (64%) people needed help with benefits, tax credits and universal credit.
Dame Clare Moriarty, chief executive of Citizens Advice, said: “At a time when millions are struggling, it’s vital people can get the advice they need. Our advisers have seen a record number of people struggling to make ends meet in recent months, facing heart-rending choices as they try to pay bills. Our partnership with Yorkshire Building Society will help us reach more people who need support.”
