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The Guernsey branch of a leading national charity was the first bureau in Britain to re-open for face-to-face client support, as Guernsey emerges from lockdown.
Staff at Citizens Advice Guernsey were surprised to learn on Friday that they were the only bureau open to visitors, after closing at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, in March. The local charity opened last week to offer appointments for face-to-face advice on a range of money matters. It had continued to offer both general and money advice by telephone throughout the three-month closure.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mrs Kerry Ciotti, explained: ‘I took a call at the end of last week from the head office of Citizens Advice, in London, asking how we were getting on as no other bureau in Britain was open. The manager there, who is our main point of contact, asked how we were coping and what it was like. They are interested to see if they can learn from our experiences here, as we return to normal service.’
The Citizens Advice service is one of the largest volunteer organisations in the British Isles, with 21,600 volunteers. Mrs Ciotti said that the reopening of the Guernsey bureau was a credit to the Island: ‘The fact that we are able to re-open while our counterparts in the UK remain closed is a tribute to the way that Guernsey has handled the pandemic so far. The Public Health campaign, and the way that Islanders have responded to it, means that we are well placed to resume normal services. That, in turn, will help the community to cope with the on-going disruption caused by the past three months.’
Citizens Advice Guernsey will be open for walk-in sessions across the full range of general advice from Monday 22 June 2020.
Citizens Advice Guernsey is located at Bridge Avenue, St Sampson, and is open on weekdays. Money advice is available by appointment only. To arrange to see a Money Adviser, and for all other advice, call 242266.
Their opening hours are as follows:
Monday - 9:30am to 4:00pm
Tuesday - 9:30am to 4:00pm
Wednesday - 9:30am to 6:30pm
Thursday - 9:30am to 4:00pm
Friday - 9:30am to 12:30pm
Pictured top: Kerry Ciotti, Ali Marquis and Mark Helyar
