MORE than £1.2m worth of debt has been written off for clients by Citizens Advice Copeland, new figures reveal.

In the organisation's latest annual report it states it helped 701 people with nearly 4,000 debt issues – with 162 clients rescheduling debt worth £820,000.

Shelley Hewitson, who is chief officer at Citizens Advice Copeland said: "Copeland faces many challenges including high levels of child poverty, deprivation and unemployment.

"Every week people turn to us for help with debt problems, assistance with benefit issues, support to stay in their homes or put food on the table to feed their families.

"I am proud to say that despite considerable challenges and financial constraints our team of highly skilled staff and volunteers have helped over 2,600 people living in the borough with over 10,800 problems.''

In total, 93 Citizens Advice Copeland clients wrote off £1,284,622 debt – an average of £13,813.14 per client. One person the organisation helped with debt issues had felt the "weight lifted at this difficult time".

The report reads: "People can often struggle with financial commitments. When problematic debt escalates, the problems are more than financial and the impact on mental well-being is severe.

"We play a vital role in ensuring people pay their priority bills first (such as rent, council tax and fuel payments), stopping escalation and stabilising people’s finances now and in the future."

Teams at the Copeland office can help with rescheduling payments, debt relief orders, bankruptcy, reducing expenditure and budgeting.

This year the organisation has also worked with other offices around the county, to publish a report on the impact of the introduction of Universal Credit in the county.

Citizens Advice Copeland has also highlighted difficulties with other benefits, especially Employment and Support Allowance, which are collated nationally to challenge existing laws and set new improved guidelines and working practices.

Shelley said: "As a service we need to look at the ways in which our service can meet the diverse needs of people living in Copeland and over the next year our focus will be on increasing accessibility to our service."

Peter Hanratty, chairman of Citizens Advice Copeland, said: "For our service to continue in Copeland we need the backing of those who live and operate here.

"Expect a charm offensive this year as we get into the communities, industry, unions and local government to get the Citizens Advice Copeland name a higher profile.''