AN ESTATE advice service has helped residents gain more than £2.5 million in benefits during the last year, they would not otherwise have received.

The Caia Park Community Advice Service, which is run by the estate's council, helps people with benefits, housing, and debt problems.

A report to the council for the past year showed the service, which is run from the community council building on Prince Charles Road, has helped residents gain more than £2.5 million they were entitled to in benefits, PIP and back pay - and has helped write off more than £250,000 worth of debt.

The Caia Park Community Advice Service is believed to be the only one of its kind funded by a community council in Wales.

A report was produced for the estate's community council by Dave Sheridan who runs the service.

In his report he stated that the total amount of gains in benefits during the last year was £2,685,263.76 for 477 clients, who made 1,638 visits to the service between them.

He stated: "This last 12 months has been hard work for the team with Universal Credit now in full force across the area, we have seen a growth in clients with complex needs including mental health issues.

"We have seen more clients in debt and have been able to help them within the service unlike in the past years when they have been referred to other services with which few would engage.

"With offering debt advice as part of the service we are able to keep the clients engaged and help them with the journey the client is on being able to give them a one stop advice experience.

"Working with Council Tax (Recovery) we have been able to prevent 31 accounts being sent for enforcement by bailiffs and we have stopped 27 enforcement agents (bailiffs) from collecting on the doorstep."

Chair of the council, Wynnstay Councillor Malcom King praised the service for helping the most vulnerable people on the estate.

He said: "That's nearly £4 million people would not have had if you include the debt relief. You wonder where people would be without this service, it's scary."

Smithfield Cllr Jayne Johnson who works with the service added: "If it wasn't for the advice service people would give up.

"One client had £10,000 worth of back-pay they were entitled to and another had £12,000 - and these were people who were struggling without money."

Cartrefle Cllr Brian Halley said: "I'd like to congratulate the team.

"No other council in the county runs a service like this and we should be proud."