New team member at Sutherland CAB will help low income familes as furlough and Universal Credit uplift come to an end

A NEW recruit has joined the team at East and Central Sutherland Citizens Advice Bureau (ECSCAB).

Louise Sutherland has taken up the role of rural recovery adviser at the CAB, which has its headquarters at Golspie.

The post has been made possible thanks to funding from the Anne Duchess of Westminster’s Fund, the Highland Coastal Communities Fund, and the Lairg Wind Farm Community Fund.

ESCAB manager Rachel MacDonell said: “We are delighted to welcome Louise Sutherland as the newest member of our advice team. Louise will join us as our rural recovery adviser.

“Within this role she will be available to provide advice on a range of topics, including employment rights, help and support with applying for jobs, accessing suitable benefits, reducing household bills and accessing charitable support.”

A well known face in Sutherland, Louise joins ECSCAB from NHS Highland where she spent a number of years working with the Care at Home team covering much of the county.

She said she was looking forward to joining the team and helping clients overcome the challenges which have been worsened by the pandemic and especially with the many changes taking place in the coming weeks.

These changes include the ending of the furlough scheme at the end of September. The £20 Universal Crrdit uplift is also set to end on October 6, although the exact date the extra payment stops depends on the day claimants receive it.

In addition the energy price cap is due to increase.

Ms MacDonell said: "Any of these changes would challenge low-income families, but all of them happening together is going to prove really hard for many people."

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