Latest news with #CitizensAdviceBureau
The Herald Scotland
19-07-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Don't let summer heat fool you - energy debt is a year-round problem
Spiralling energy costs have led to a surge of energy debt in Scotland. The numbers are stark. Our most recent figures, covering the first three months of 2025, showed that more than 1,500 people turned to a CAB for advice on energy debt. There has been an alarming rise in demand for debt advice from our network. Compared to pre-Covid times, there has been a 65% increase in the number of people seeking energy debt advice from CABs. The volume of people needing help with energy debt is worrying, and so is the amount of debt they have been forced to accumulate. The average energy debt people present to CAB is £2,500. Bear in mind that many people also have other types of debt, such as council tax debt and rent arrears. Unaffordable energy bills, mounting housing costs and the undermining of the social safety net have combined to make it much harder for people to afford life's essentials. Consider the financial and emotional strain of living with debt. Amanda visited her local Citizens Advice Bureau seeking help with debt. She works on a zero-hours contract in the healthcare sector, which makes it difficult for her to maintain a stable income. Over time, she accumulated more than £3,200 of energy debt. Mark also turned to his CAB for support. He is a self-employed gardener whose income fluctuates throughout the year, and he now faces an energy debt of over £6,300. The situations that brought Amanda and Mark to this point are alarmingly common. They are ordinary people with unpredictable incomes, simply trying to manage their everyday expenses. Energy debt can happen to anyone. It would be easy to conclude that there is nothing we can do to stop people from being forced into energy debt because the scale of the challenge seems too big to overcome. That position is a counsel of despair. There are solutions available. For their part, energy suppliers need a more consistent approach to helping people who are struggling to pay their bills. We need a social tariff in the energy market, which would provide people on low incomes with discounted energy bills. An energy debt relief scheme is another urgent priority. By taking decisive actions like these, suppliers, the UK Government, and the regulator Ofgem can reduce bills and save people from energy debt. It's high time these choices were made. Dr Matthew Lee is part of the Social Justice team at Citizens Advice Scotland
RNZ News
10-07-2025
- RNZ News
Family of Kiwi woman killed by elephant thankful for support
Alison Jean Taylor, 67, from Porirua. Photo: Supplied/Facebook/Citizens Advice Bureau Porirua The family of the New Zealander killed by an elephant in Zambia have told RNZ they are thankful for the support they are receiving as they work to bring their loved one home. Alison Jean Taylor, 67, from Porirua, was attacked by a female elephant on 3 July while walking on a safari in South Luangwa National Park, along with another woman from the UK. Her brother Bill Taylor said the other woman who died was his sister's longtime friend and second cousin Janice Taylor Easton, also known as Janet. Bill Taylor said the family's focus was currently on repatriating his sister and her belongings back to New Zealand. He said they were thankful to the many people who were providing them with assistance during "this difficult process". He said Alison Taylor grew up in Southland and after attending Otago University, spent the majority of her working life in Wellington, where she lived. Alison Taylor was described as cheerful, compassionate and helpful. Photo: Supplied Alison Taylor was the deputy chair for Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) Porirua. On Wednesday, CAB Porirua said Alison Taylor was "a valued and highly effective volunteer" and would be profoundly missed. Porirua councillor Geoff Hayward said Alison Taylor was a cheerful, compassionate and helpful person. "I think of her as an inspiration that we can all do more and be more kind in this world," Hayward said. The two women were near big Lagoon Bush Camp in South Luangwa National Park when the elephant, which was with its calf, charged at them. Shots were fired at the elephant, wounding the animal and ultimately stopping the attack. However, Eastern Province Police commanding officer Robertson Mweemba confirmed both women died at the scene. Two others travelling with the group were uninjured. A farewell is expected to be held for Alison Taylor on 15 August in Wellington. The family were requesting privacy at this time. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Otago Daily Times
09-07-2025
- Otago Daily Times
'An inspiration': Family mourn NZ woman killed by elephant
Alison Taylor was fatally attacked by a female elephant while walking on a safari in Zambia. Photo: Supplied By Krystal Gibbens of RNZ The New Zealander killed by an elephant in Zambia has been remembered as a cheerful and compassionate person. Alison Jean Taylor, 67, from Porirua and 68-year-old Easton Janet Taylor from the UK were attacked by a female elephant last week while walking on a safari in South Luangwa National Park. Taylor lived in Titahi Bay and was the deputy chair for Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) Porirua. CAB Porirua said Taylor was "a valued and highly effective volunteer" and would be profoundly missed. "Our thoughts are with Alison's family and friends during this difficult time." A tribute page on Central Otago Funerals' website remembered Taylor as a "dearly loved" loved daughter, sister and aunt, with family spanning from Central Otago to Auckland. Her parents were from Frankton and her sister and brother-in-law live in Queenstown. The family has asked for privacy. Porirua councillor Geoff Hayward said Taylor was a cheerful, compassionate and helpful person. "I think of her as an inspiration that we can all do more and be more kind in this world." Hayward said it was a tragic situation. The two women were near big Lagoon Bush Camp in South Luangwa National Park when the elephant, which was with its calf, charged at them. Shots were fired at the elephant, wounding the animal and ultimately stopping the attack. However, Eastern Province Police commanding officer Robertson Mweemba confirmed both women died at the scene. Two others travelling with the group were uninjured. A farewell is expected to be held for Taylor on 15 August in Wellington.
Otago Daily Times
09-07-2025
- Otago Daily Times
NZ woman killed by elephant 'dearly loved'
Alison Taylor was fatally attacked by a female elephant while walking on a safari in Zambia. Photo: Supplied By Krystal Gibbens of RNZ The New Zealander killed by an elephant in Zambia has been remembered as a cheerful and compassionate person. Alison Jean Taylor, 67, from Porirua and 68-year-old Easton Janet Taylor from the UK were attacked by a female elephant last week while walking on a safari in South Luangwa National Park. Taylor lived in Titahi Bay and was the deputy chair for Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) Porirua. CAB Porirua said Taylor was "a valued and highly effective volunteer" and would be profoundly missed. "Our thoughts are with Alison's family and friends during this difficult time." A tribute page on Central Otago Funerals' website remembered Taylor as a "dearly loved" loved daughter, sister and aunt, with family spanning from Central Otago to Auckland. Her parents were from Frankton and her sister and brother-in-law live in Queenstown. The family has asked for privacy. Porirua councillor Geoff Hayward said Taylor was a cheerful, compassionate and helpful person. "I think of her as an inspiration that we can all do more and be more kind in this world." Hayward said it was a tragic situation. The two women were near big Lagoon Bush Camp in South Luangwa National Park when the elephant, which was with its calf, charged at them. Shots were fired at the elephant, wounding the animal and ultimately stopping the attack. However, Eastern Province Police commanding officer Robertson Mweemba confirmed both women died at the scene. Two others travelling with the group were uninjured. A farewell is expected to be held for Taylor on 15 August in Wellington.
1News
09-07-2025
- 1News
Woman killed by elephant remembered as an 'inspiration that we can all do more'
The New Zealander killed by an elephant in Zambia has been remembered as a cheerful and compassionate person. Alison Jean Taylor, 67, from Porirua and 68-year-old Easton Janet Taylor from the UK were attacked by a female elephant last week while walking on a safari in South Luangwa National Park. Taylor lived in Titahi Bay and was the deputy chairwoman for Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) Porirua. CAB Porirua said Taylor was "a valued and highly effective volunteer" and would be profoundly missed. "Our thoughts are with Alison's family and friends during this difficult time." ADVERTISEMENT A tribute page on Central Otago Funerals' website remembered Taylor as a loved daughter, sister and aunt, with family spanning from Central Otago to Auckland. The family has asked for privacy. Porirua councillor Geoff Hayward said Taylor was a cheerful, compassionate and helpful person. "I think of her as an inspiration that we can all do more and be more kind in this world." Hayward said it was a tragic situation. The two women were near big Lagoon Bush Camp in South Luangwa National Park when the elephant, which was with its calf, charged at them. Shots were fired at the elephant, wounding the animal and ultimately stopping the attack. ADVERTISEMENT However, Eastern Province Police commanding officer Robertson Mweemba confirmed both women died at the scene. Two others travelling with the group were uninjured. A farewell is expected to be held for Taylor on August 15 in Wellington.
