News Funding woes and client success for advice service
Boothferry Citizens' Advice Bureau members held their annual general meeting last week, describing their year as 'a year of contrasts'.
The annual report revealed that more than 1,830 unique clients accessed the service and the CAB dealt with 2,195 new inquiries from clients.
A total of 8,199 new issues were presented to the bureau. The biggest percentage of inquiries related to debt issues.
In total, 58 per cent of clients were female and 42 per cent were male. The biggest percentage of clients were ones with an income of under £600 a month, at 45 per cent.
The bureau's vision for the future of volunteer development was also discussed at the meeting. This included a 'gateway assessment service', which would enable clients to access the bureau's services more easily.
The service would be brief, to keep it fast-paced, and then, if necessary, clients would be referred to specialists within the bureau.
Discussions are currently taking place as to how to prepare the gateway assessment service and it is hoped that it will begin in October.
Successes through the money advice team at the bureau included assisting 25 clients with filing for bankruptcy, and getting a £6,300 overpayment on Pension Credit written off.
A £859 backdated payment of Incapacity Benefit was secured for a client.
In the official annual report Celia Evans, bureau manager, said: "I am proud to be the manager and after 20 years with Boothferry CAB remain as committed as ever to ensure the citizens of our area receive the best possible advice service we can provide.
"Staff and volunteers work under tremendous pressure; whenever one interview is finished there is always another person waiting to be seen or a phone call that needs to be answered.
"Funding is very tight at present and we have not been able to recruit any new staff for several months. It is extremely disheartening to see staff and volunteers toil away day after day with little or no prospect of additional support.
"The bureau will play its part in developing partnerships, to ensure that it is in the best possible position to meet the requirements of both East Riding of Yorkshire Council and the Legal Services Commission in the future."
Brenda Cocliff, chair, said: "Boothferry CAB has provided another year of excellent services to the people of Goole and the surrounding area, thanks to expertise, dedication and commitment of the staff, volunteers and Trustee Board members.
"We continue to have strong support from local sources which include the ERYC, parish and town councils in our area, who give grants which enable us to offer a service not only at the main bureau itself but to outlying posts and rural venues on a regular basis.
"This is seen as a much-needed service provided by the bureau and we are very grateful for this continued support."
Ann Blackburn, vice-chair, added: "We have had some great successes with clients we have helped but also difficult decisions to make with ending some of our funding.
"However, I am confident that our staff will continue to serve the people of Goole to the best of their ability."
Published on 24th July 2008 in News.
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