The Ask Centre in Rhyl welcomed a special guest last week, Rebecca Evans, Finance Minister for the Welsh Government.
On the visit, Rebecca spent time with the Revd Paul Robinson, Minister of The United Church Rhyl, and Eunice Parry, Ask Centre Manager, to learn about the support and community work offered.
The finance minister also met members of the church leadership team.
Paul said: “It was wonderful for the Welsh Government to take the time to visit our vital service and encourage people in North Wales to take advantage of the support we offer during the cost-of-living crisis.
“Jesus’ encouragement for us to ask, seek and knock is the vision behind the ASK Centre. We want people to visit us and ask and seek for the advice and support they need. We’re able to respond with professional advice, practical help, as well as signposting to other partners – it’s one way in which our church community seeks to make the Kingdom of God known here in Rhyl.”
The Ask Centre, which won a United Reformed Church Community Project Award in 2018, serves its community through offering food, advice, access to online services and warm spaces for numerous groups and activities. It is mostly run by volunteers.
The Centre also houses Citizens Advice Denbighshire’s offices, one of the advice partners in the North Wales Single Advice Fund (SAF) regional service.
The Welsh Government reports that problems with welfare benefits claims, especially Personal Independence Payment and Universal Credit, are the main reasons why people are seeking advice and the SAF services in North Wales helped their clients to claim over £17million of extra welfare benefit income over the last financial year.
Since the SAF was introduced in January 2020 by the Welsh Government, it has helped 144,000 people deal with over 660,000 social welfare problems. It has also helped people to claim £83m of additional income, writing off debts worth more than £23m. The Minister for Social Justice has agreed to continue the funding for the Single Advice Fund until March 2024.
Rebecca said: “I know the advice services we support are a lifeline for people struggling with the cost-of-living crisis, helping them to maximise their income and manage their debts. It’s great to see this vital work in action at projects like the ASK Centre.
“I would urge those who are unsure about what support is available to them to visit centres such as this one, or to call Advicelink Cymru to make sure they don’t miss out on money they may be entitled to.”