LIBRARIES in Glasgow have generated more than £1.4 million for people on benefits and in debt.

Figures released today by Glasgow Life show 1254 people across the city have gained £1,007,393 in benefits and £396,790 in debts managed.

Library-based money advice services support the city's most vulnerable people in 11 sites across the city.

Frank McAveety, Leader of Glasgow City Council, said: “Creating a welcoming, engaging hub at the heart of the community is paramount to our commitment to local residents.

"We know that the people of Glasgow truly value the key social, educational, economic and often life-changing services our community libraries provide.

“By utilising the city’s libraries to provide access to money advice outreach, I’m delighted that we have been able to support the most vulnerable people across our city to access the financial improvements they are entitled to.”

Part of Glasgow City Council’s Financial Inclusion Strategy, the service, delivered by Citizens Advice Bureau and local partners, is designed to offer money advice in a familiar, comfortable setting.

For many, the outreach services offer a lifeline to understand their rights and deal with debt problems.

Dave, who asked not to share his surname, is a joiner by trade but was made redundant in 2011.

Now 65, he lost the sight in his right eye in a workplace accident at the age of 21 with a wife and a new baby on the way.

He said: “Some companies viewed me as a liability, but I was loyal to those who did employ me – most jobs I had were for five, ten years at a time, only ever moving on when the work dried up.

“And even then, if I lost my job on a Friday because the contract ended, I’d just go out and make sure I had a new one by the Tuesday.”

But everything changed for Dave when, in 2011, he was made redundant from his job of 26 years.

Aged 60, Dave managed to find himself another job - a three month contract that gradually turned in to eight months. Towards the end of the contract, however, Dave had two strokes and was signed off sick.

Denied any Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Dave worked hard to get himself fit for work, and after visiting his local job centre, again found work for 11 months.

By this point, he not only had no sight in his right eye, and was recovering from two mini-strokes; he was also suffering from arthritis in his spine and knee.

He added: "My mother brought me up to work - she worked right up until she was 70. So I managed to get myself another job.”

But that work dried up, and Dave was left unemployed. Worried this time that a reduction in household income could cost him his home, Dave spoke to a neighbour who suggested he visit the money advice service at his local library.

Dave said: "My wife and I were struggling to make ends meet. I was so anxious about going along - I was basically going to have to tell a stranger about my whole life. But, the library atmosphere is so nice, you feel so calm when you come in.

“The advisor put me at ease, helped guide me through all the forms, and talked me through what I might be entitled to.

“I should’ve come to the library sooner; it would have made my life a lot easier.

"At the end of the day, I’ve worked all my life and this benefit is what I’m entitled to. Without this service in my local library I would never have known how to claim it."

Money Advisors in 11 of the city’s libraries offer support and advice to help citizens understand their entitlement.

The work of libraries and money advisors is particularly important given the impact of reforms to the welfare system.

Research commissioned by the Scottish Parliament and published in 2016 highlights that by 2020/21 the impact of changes to the benefit system will result in the people of Glasgow suffering a loss of £167m a year, equivalent to £400 a year for every working age adult in the city.

The city is experiencing the greatest loses in Scotland under reforms.

With welfare claimants in Scotland set to lose further large sums, Glasgow Libraries customers are offered a helping hand to decipher the more than 50 benefits, allowances, credits, grants and payments available to people who meet the conditions of entitlement, within the UK benefits system.