Volunteer adviser Helen has wide experience helping people for Citizens Advice and other organisations. Here she reflects on a totally new situation.
“Working from home is a really new experience. It’s exposed my inadequate tech equipment and frustration at not knowing how to do everything instantly!
“But that’s all balanced by my admiration for our staff.
“Their support and patience has been brilliant. And they’ve set up a new What’s App which is already a great success.
“So what has changed? Covid19 issues are now dominant obviously. Employment problems are causing hardship for some, triggering the need for universal credit and food parcels. Even worse, for one client, the unexpected death of a family member and the extra problem of there being no will.
“Not so prevalent but still evident is the impact of cramped living conditions or living alone.
“Again though it’s brilliant that we have set up a new team of volunteers to specialise in helping vulnerable clients. I think this will become such a valuable part of our work.
“The weather has been wonderful and the view from my window is great, but I wish my laptop was in a better place. I have to have the blind down because the sun streaming in just makes work impossible!”
#AdviceAtHome All this week beginning 20 April Local Citizens Advice are sharing their experiences of the lockdown on social media with #AdviceAtHome. Follow us on Twitter