Annual review [ 1.4 MB] - Citizens Advice

As a result of the economic climate Copeland Citizens Advice Bureau has facednumerous challenges in this financial year. The weakness of the global moneymarkets is forcing agencies to consider on which client groups their efforts should befocussed in order to address local needs.This year we have spent time examining how we can continue to develop our serviceto meet the needs of increasing client numbers while maintaining our high standardsof advice. We continue to work in close partnership with other agencies as a means ofsecuring the best outcomes for our clients and community.The current socioeconomic crisis has had positive consequences in that it hasencouraged better partnership working between agencies who may have previouslyconsidered their aims too diverse or distinctive to enable them to work in harmony.These same organisations have now identified and established synergies, previouslymissed or dismissed, for the benefit of their respective clients.Life changing events such as illness, loss of employment, bereavement, separationand the rising cost of food, fuel and utilities will ensure growing demand for ouradvice and support services.In an effort to ensure access to continuing support for clients facing these issues, April2010 saw us secure two years’ funding from Northern Rock for a full time debt workerto run an integrated debt advice project, which allows for the provision of telephonemoney advice in partnership with a CAB consortium, in addition to the face to faceadvice available in the bureau. This broadened the range of resources we can drawon in addressing the needs of those who are unable to access our offices andoutreach services, or may prefer money advice by a different means. This project isbeing carefully monitored in order to access additional funding to sustain andmaintain in-house provision of telephone advice throughout the borough.The Legal Services Commission awarded us, in consortium with Cumbria Law Centreand Allerdale Citizens Advice Bureau, the Social Welfare Contract for the region toprovide Legal Aid funded advice in the areas of Housing, Debt and Welfare Benefits.During the year we also successfully applied to United Utilities to fund the services ofa debt worker working specifically with referrals from mental health agencies, familycentres and West Cumberland Hospital. This project began in January 2011 andalthough current funding ceases December 2012, the evidence of the assistanceprovided to clients and the evidence of need for the service will be used to securefurther funding.Late in 2010 we were awarded money from Nationwide to target and meet theneeds of older clients, with whom we work specifically in managing their issues.Our Future Job Fund Workers were in post for the majority of 2010/11 – a greatsuccess! Their reports are included later.We continue to work with Macmillan, and other vulnerable groups, in order to helpimprove their quality of life. We also continue to work with prisoners in HMPHaverigg and offenders, ex-offenders and their families in the community in aneffort to assist them to understand their responsibilities and help remove barrierspreventing them from moving away from an offending cycle.Copeland Citizens Advice Bureau offers assistance and support across a range ofissues, helping people to manage debt, maximise income and secure and heat theirhomes. These are fundamental needs which must be met if people are to beenabled to move forward, in order to prevent or break cycles of debt anddeprivation.We also provide volunteering opportunities in a varied range of roles, from advisingand administration to reception or trustee board member. Being open to engagingin positions of responsibility ensures:Opportunities to improve skills + quality training schemes + supported workexperience in a supportive learning environment = a greater chance of accessingpaid employment in the community, increased self confidence and improvedgeneral well-being.This report, complied by volunteers and paid staff, describes work delivered by thebureau during 2010 -2011, and it is hoped it will provide some insight as to howCopeland Citizens Advice Bureau makes a positive contribution to the supportrequired by individuals and groups in our community.Please don’t forget, we are a local charity and we depend on your support in orderto continue to provide our services to the community of Copeland.Carol Graham, Copeland CAB Manager