West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has thanked volunteers who are helping local people with extra challenges that they are facing owing to rising prices and sky-high energy bills.

Harriett visited the South Worcestershire Citizens Advice offices in the heart of Malvern to talk to chief executive Annie Robson and chairman Brian Herdman about the roll out of an emergency fund which is aimed at helping low-income families coping with rising bills.

County councils have been so far been allocated £421 million to ensure people get the help they need with higher bills and the Household Support Fund – run by the local Citizens Advice team was launched in 2021 to directly help those who need it most.

The fund is renewed annually, and people who need help are encouraged to reach out to the local Citizens Advice office to see if they are able to help.

Harriett said:

“Citizens Advice is a crucial local resource and the volunteers do an amazing job offering help and advice to people who need it most.

“We often deal with the same people and my casework team works closely with Citizens Advice and often signposts my constituents to the Household Support Fund which is an important safety net for some lower income families.

“It was really helpful to get local feedback from Annie and Brian and we’ve agreed to make sure our teams work much more closely together to make sure local people are best supported to deal with these current economic challenges.”

Photo: Harriett Baldwin MP with South Worcestershire Citizens Advice CEO Annie Robson.