BOLTON people have been able to claim extra welfare benefits worth more than £500,000 - thanks to a pioneering home visiting scheme by Bolton Citizens Advice Bureau.

The scheme's remarkable success since it began early last year, funded by Social Services, hinges on giving expert advice to housebound local people.

And, it has been so effective in getting extra cash for those in need that the CAB needs to recruit more volunteers to cope with the demand for this expertise.

Amarjit Kaur and Sofia Mirza are the two full-time officers working on the project.

Amarjit said: "The service is important because often those most in need of advice find it very difficult to gain access to help.

"So we are especially pleased with the way the scheme has gone so far."

Now they need to recruit local people aged from 18 to 66, "and we are especially looking for people who have been carers themselves" to become volunteers to expand the service.

Full training is given beforehand and the work involved will occupy 10 hours a week, with travelling expenses met.

The service will run from the CAB's new premises in Mawdsley Street in Bolton town centre, and anyone who would like to know more can ring the home-visiting service on Bolton 900213.

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