Highland charity welcomes UK government extension of Covid-19 coronavirus furlough scheme
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The boss of Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) in Inverness welcomed the extension of furlough until October as a 'lifeline' for those in need.
CAS staff in Inverness, Badenoch and Strathspey have been dealing with hundreds of anxious callers every day since coronavirus lockdown measures began and many people were furloughed from work, being paid 80 per cent of their normal salary by the government.
Earlier this week Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will continue until the end of October.
Local CAS manager Alasdair Christie said without it, many would be driven into extreme poverty.
Mr Christie, who is also deputy leader of Highland Council, said: “This is really a lifeline for so many businesses and so many individuals.
“Without it, folk would be driven into poverty, would probably be losing their houses, falling behind with rent payments and be unable to put food on the table.
“It is pleasing to note it is being continued. Furlough, of course, for many, means 80 per cent of salary, which is better than the alternative but still means people have to close the gap.
“The extension until October will give some security and certainty in the forthcoming months.”
CAS has 43 paid staff in Inverness and Aviemore, and about 100 in all throughout the Highlands.
They have been working flat out from morning to night dealing with callers experiencing hardship and anxiety during lockdown.
Mr Christie said: “With the pressure of all of this, people are telling us they’re finding it more difficult to cope as time goes on. Our staff are logging on to screens and telephones in the morning and working flat out, right through normal hours. If they were to carry on, those phones would still be ringing at 10 or 11pm. The demand for our advice services at the moment is enormous.”
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