Scottish Borders advice service contract deal agreed

A three-year contract has been awarded to provide financial and welfare advice to people in south east Scotland.

Scottish Borders Council (SBC) signed the deal with the newly-formed consortium of the Borders Citizens Advice Bureaux (CAB).

The contract comes into force on 1 April and has an option to extend.

SBC social work director Andrew Lowe said it would ensure services met the needs of “the most vulnerable” in communities across the region.

Speaking on behalf of the consortium, George Russell said: “Borders residents have had access to a Citizens Advice service for over 40 years which has helped them deal with, and resolve, a wide range of personal and financial problems.

“In this difficult economic climate it is even more important that people get help to solve the complex problems they face, whenever they need it.

“The new SBC contract means that the Citizens Advice service is secure, right across the Borders for the next three and possibly five years.

“That provides us with the means to implement changes that will improve our service to clients and provide a solid platform on which we can develop new and beneficial projects.”