The manager of Citizens Advice Bureau Wellsford reported a slight rise in the number of enquires this year compared to last year.
Janny Chandra-Baker told the bureau’s annual general meeting last month that enquiries had risen 2.5 per cent. She said most enquires (18.5%) related to welfare assistance, a reflection of the fact Wellsford is a low-income area.
There had also been a rise in enquiries related to domestic violence.
Janny lamented the fact that WINZ often required beneficiaries to make appointments online, which was a challenge for many in Wellsford where internet coverage was often poor.
However, the bureau had been able to assist clients by providing a publically-available computer. During the meeting Janny received a certificate honouring her five years of service with the bureau.
