News Council maintain CAB fund support
Pictured are Ian Cawsey and Celia Evans (05-06-03 GT)
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Goole Town Council has confirmed that it will continue to support Boothferry Citizens' Advice Bureau after it emerged that the centre is facing yet another hurdle in its fight to stay open.
East Riding of Yorkshire Council recently announced that it is seeking to invite other organisations as well as the CAB to tender to provide community legal advice in the future. If the CAB is unsuccessful with the tender, the future of the charity could be in jeopardy.
The process has already been tried and tested in Hull and has led to the city council awarding the contract to a different organisation rather than their CAB. East Riding Council is currently seeking to award a contract to commence next April.
Celia Evans, bureau manager, along with trustee Tracy Wharvell, met Goole Town Council on Monday to discuss the bureau's future.
Goole Town Council currently provides the CAB with £12,000 annually and several other parish councils also provide financial help.
Goole Town Councillor Pat O'Neil said: "We at Goole Town Council have always valued that service. It is very important to the people of Goole."
Tracy Wharvell, CAB trustee, said: "Knowing that the £12,000 is secure is a relief and it is very reassuring. The support that Goole Town Council is giving is very important to us."
Goole MP Ian Cawsey visited CAB on Pasture Road on Monday to meet the staff and volunteers.
He said: "I know from all the referrals and conversations I have with local people how highly regarded our local Citizens' Advice Bureau is. For people who need independent advice and do not have the means to pay for it then the CAB is a trusted source of help and support and this should not be lightly disregarded.
"So I have agreed to support a bid for Lottery funding for our CAB and to write to the council to ask that they adopt a cautious approach to the consideration of any change. It is very likely that the same organisation that won the Hull contract will tender for the East Riding service.
"I think it might be better for our council to delay any tender plans for the time being and see what the impact of Hull's decision turns out to be."
He added: "I am happy to continue to support our local CAB and I hope they continue to be part of the council's plans for financial support for a free, independent advice service for a long time to come."
Tracy also commended the volunteers of the service, who work tirelessly to help local people and continue the fight to keep it open.
She said: "Our volunteers work so hard. A lot of them go on to do great things. Volunteering at CAB gives them the confidence to find other employment opportunities. There is also a great community spirit with our volunteers. If we don't get the tender, the paid staff are all going to have to get other paid jobs."
Celia Evans, bureau manager, invited Goole Town Councillors to go along to the bureau at any time and see the work that was done.
Boothferry CAB will hold their AGM at Goole Leisure Centre in July.
Published on 5th June 2008 in News.
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