Difficulties are all around us, and are there to be overcome!

The more difficult difficulties need some help and support from others - providing support as a community is always our challenge but never more than in this present crisis.

For some, there is help within a family, but many need to reach out to others.

In fact, some problems are best helped by strangers, with whom there is no element of criticism or judgment based on past perceptions.

Difficulties have a way of compounding; money problems lead to debts and to high interest loans; problems cause upset, anger, the hurting of friends and the breakdown of relationships.

Tensions often lead to depression, anxiety and more complex mental health issues and, worst of all, to drink.

I am amazed watching old films how often a character with a problem needs a whisky - even in the wild west this didn't help to think straight or shoot straight!

We have all of us experienced it, but hopefully only to a mild extent.

Food bank help becomes vital when the rent and other essential outgoings take all the available money, so in the Community Larder we see these problems.

At the start of the lockdown food was delivered to anyone who asked, including those just isolating.

Shops and delivery services, including volunteers, have now adapted to this new world, so people with underlying problems come to the fore once more.

In our complex world these underlying problems usually need some expertise, whether sorting out Universal Credit obtaining legal advice or just a cool head for a balanced discussion; that is what the Citizens Advice Centres are set up to provide.

At the start of the crisis last April, like the food bank, they had to change their way of working, but now their services are available on the phones and online five days per week; clients can ring or email to leave their details for CitA to call back 24 hours a day.

Citizens Advice East Devon is an independent charity and part of the National Citizens Advice network, providing free, confidential and impartial advice.

They deal not just with the immediate issue helping the client to look for advice, but with the underlying issues as well.

This means that they are able to help in both the short and the longer term, enabling clients to move forward from difficult situations.

Advice and assistance is available on Universal Credit, debts and money, benefits, personal advice, housing, consumer advice, legal advice, redundancy and employment and disability benefits.

Last year, Citizens Advice East Devon helped more than 5,000 local people to access the help they needed, dealing with over 12,500 issues which cover a broad spectrum of advice needs.

CitA helped clients achieve income gains of £2.5 million in 2019-20, and gains of £1.8 million so far in 2020-21.

With so many people displaced from previously stable and regular jobs there are many situations where family income is reduced with a need to adjust.

There may be long-term contracts, lease agreements and other outgoings which cannot be reduced until contracts run out and, of course, the rent must be paid!

There are even landlords trying to raise rents because of high demand from people wishing to escape the London area. In the midst of a majority supporting others, there are always a few trying to take advantage.

Call CitA on 01395 265070; email enquiries@citizensadviceeastdevon.org; Text Advice 82727, website: www.citizensadviceeastdevon.org … or contact via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or LinkedIn.