Local residents can now have their say on the way Social Welfare and Advice Services are delivered in our borough through a new Council consultation.

These services are provided to ensure that people have information, support and advice about benefits, housing matters, debt and money management, employment rights and redundancy and social care related issues.

Advice Services are currently delivered from four offices located in Chester, Ellesmere Port, Winsford and Northwich, but the pandemic has led to an increase in the number of people receiving help online or over the phone.

This has caused the Council to consider introducing more local bases and community access points such as foodbanks and work zones, in order to offer a more equitable level of support across west Cheshire.

The Council wants to help people to get the services they need, close to where they live.

In places like Frodsham and Helsby, this might involve a free telephone service, a greater role for the voluntary sector, or one-to-one support in community venues such as libraries, GP surgeries and leisure centres.

The consultation is now live and will run until Wednesday 17 March. It takes about 10-15 minutes to complete. You can read more about it, and take part, here.

To request a copy of the consultation in another format, telephone: 0300 123 8 123.