THE number of people seeking advice about benefits and debt increased sharply and more than 3,000 clients sought help from advisers according to the latest annual report from Monmouthshire County Citizens Advice.

The report, for the year to 31 March 2017 states local offices saw 3,059 clients giving advice on 6,734 separate issues. Further analysis shows that, as was expected, advice on benefits and debt advice rose over the same period while employment and housing were also highlighted.

Shirley Lightbound, Chief Executive Officer said, ‘We are pleased to report that we continue to improve our service to the residents of Monmouthshire and despite cuts to our funding we have seen an increase in the number of clients we have been able to help.

‘The service in Monmouthshire is run with a very small number of paid staff and the advice is mainly given by our volunteers who commit to giving regular amounts of time each week to help to support the people in their community’.

Anyone interested in volunteering with Monmouthshire County Citizens Advice can email [email protected] or visiting the Citizens Advice Website at http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/volunteer_bureau_search