A TELECOMS firm has joined forces with East Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau to help cash-strapped residents stay connected.

Vodafone donated 80 SIM cards – each providing 20 gigabytes of data and six months of free calls – to the charity so they could be handed to those who are struggling to make ends meet.

Julie Brown, a money advisor at the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) office in Barrhead, told how some people can’t afford to have a mobile phone, leaving them “disconnected” from support services.

Not having a phone can also make it more difficult for those who are unemployed to find work.

Julie, who has worked at the CAB for 21 years, told the Barrhead News: “There are some clients I have to write letters to if I want to ask them to come in for an appointment.

“These SIM cards will mean clients can get in touch whenever they need to.”

This time of year can be tough for many people who are struggling to cope with rising fuel bills and other day-to-day costs, such as putting food on the table, having also built up debt to see them through the Christmas period.

The team at East Renfrewshire CAB are able to help in a number of ways, including drawing up a debt management plan for clients.

They can also provide vouchers to be used in Lidl stores to buy fresh produce that people may not find at a foodbank, where many items are ‘long-life’ products.

It is hoped this scheme can be rolled out to other supermarkets in the local area in due course.

Julie has urged anyone in East Renfrewshire who is worried about their finances to get in touch.

She said: “We are not here to judge, we are here to help.

“There’s a light at the end of the tunnel, so don’t be embarrassed – just come to us and let us help you.”

Julie and her colleagues at the CAB office can be reached on 0790 160 7309 or 0141 881 3660.

Alternatively, send an email to julie.brown@eastrenfrewshirecab.casonline.org.uk.

The Scottish Government has also launched a new website – moneysupport.scot – that includes links to free and impartial debt advice to help people take control of their finances.