Charity supports Newtownabbey residents during coronavirus pandemic

Once the country went into lockdown the charity became completely telephone based dealing with over 12,000 enquiries and helping households from the community to get £2 million.

This is money CAAN advisers have supported clients to claim that will then go back into helping the economy.

Lorraine Adamson, area manager, said: “The level of demand for advice was staggering, especially employment advice with so many facing uncertainty in lockdown with lay-offs, dismissals, redundancies, and then subsequently needing clarity on the range of government schemes.

“The spikes in demand for advice were unprecedented in our 54 years serving our community, with many clients seeking our service for the first time.”

CAAN has worked with a range of community groups, foodbanks and churches who have helped around 300 of its clients in times of crisis to give them food and heat.

It added these are valued partnerships which have adapted to address these unprecedented times.

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