CITIZENS Advice York has received its first major boost under a new Corporate Friends Scheme.

Independent financial planning company Ardent UK has become the first local business to contribute to the project, which may provide CAY with an important new revenue stream.

Ardent director Mark Fisher handed over a cheque for £1,000 to CAY’s CEO Simon Topham in a move which they both hoped will become a model for other businesses to follow.

Ardent said it had chosen to donate to CAY because of its strong track record in offering free, impartial and independent advice to thousands of York residents, covering a wide variety of issues including disability benefits, welfare benefits, debt problems, discrimination, relationships, immigration, housing and legal issues.

Ardent business manager Elain Hughes said: “Ardent has had the pleasure of working with CAY over the last six months and, as a company, we have gained a better understanding of what they do and why, which is invaluable to the city.

“This falls in line with Ardent’s ethos and values and because of this, Ardent are proud to be supporters of CAY.”

Mr Topham said: “We are delighted and very appreciative that Ardent has been so generous and is kicking off our new campaign to recruit local businesses as Friends of CAY.

“The values and business principles of Ardent relate closely to our own and they understand that we need the support of the local business community. Ardent have set a fantastic example that I hope other York businesses will follow.”

The Press reported last month that CAY’s funding had been renewed for the year ahead by City of York Council to cover its drop-in sessions. The one year “holding agreement” saw the council pay £128,000 to keep it running while there was a fundamental review of future funding.

Last autumn, CAY had to cut its drop-in advice sessions from four to two a week, because funding ran out. The council then put forward an extra £12,000 to keep the four day service running, but under the new deal, the drop-in sessions were cut to three days a week.