£50,000 Government grant for Wirral Citizens Advice Bureau will be directed towards providing a new service for health and social care.

The award – from the Department of Health and Social Care Volunteering – will draw together various organisations and provide an opportunity to promote health and social care volunteering.

Jill Cox at Wirral CAB said: “There were 984 organisations who registered their interest in applying for this highly-competitive fund and we believe that our success is due to our proven ability to deliver local health projects alongside statutory agencies, addressing health inequalities across Wirral”.

Wirral CAB last year advised 15,104 clients on 47,048 issues on issues of health. The majority of the bureau’s work relates to debt and money management.

The CAB says the results of this work boosted Wirral’s economy by £27m in financial benefit and debt relief.

It also prevented 200 clients from being evicted and becoming homeless.

Services from the centres are provided by volunteer advisers who give their personal time estimated to be valued at £432,000 each year.

Care Services Minister Paul Burstow said: “Volunteers are a great asset in promoting and improving health.”

He said the funding will help get volunteers involved in “providing real support that will help local communities and give the volunteers invaluable experience and skills.”