Annual review [ 1.4 MB] - Citizens Advice

2010 -2011 has not been an easy year for any charity in the country and we atCopeland CAB have realised this. It is obvious that we need to focus on specific areasof need within the community to deliver the greatest impact in these challengingtimes.This is also reflected in the funding resources we access. More and more funders areasking for specific projects to support the more vulnerable in our community.One of the biggest threats to our community at present is the loss of job security.People who, in the past, considered their employment was for life, have to face thereality that they may, due to the fragility of global markets, be suddenly jobless.This can be catastrophic to people: family units can be broken; debt problems quicklyarise; despair and a sense of worthlessness can then cause a myriad of issues to theperson concerned and his wider community.One of the other main areas of challenge for the bureau is the potential merger ofa number of local bureaux into a Cumbria wide organisation. While this is one ofthe aims of the national CA, we have some concerns that there may be a dilutionof service locally. Given Copeland CAB’s commitment to the people of Copeland,we must be wary of the initiative while still accepting there may be greaterbenefits in some form of partnering arrangements with neighbouring bureaux.This is an area of business we will be monitoring throughout the forthcoming year.Finally, I would like to offer my thanks and gratitude to the staff of the bureau. Wehave had a difficult year with the loss of our Manager for a significant amount oftime, but the staff (both volunteers and contract) rallied round to support thebureau and it is to their credit that the quality of service was never compromised.Well done to everyone and I look forward to next year with optimism.Peter Hanratty, Chair, Copeland CAB Trustee BoardHere at Copeland CAB we recognise this and we can provide a support structure thatcan, at worst, ease the situation and, at best, provide a sustainable solution toindividuals and families.The challenges facing the Bureau will be stiff, there are more and more agencieschasing a dwindling funding pot. But I have absolute faith in our staff to deliver thestandards of service we pride ourselves on. This will be done with grace and goodhumour in the face of a harsh economy.One of the challenges I would set the Board this year is to get the message out to thewider community of the work we deliver on a daily basis. While there are a numberof agencies who claim expertise and excellence in delivery of support services to thecommunity, in reality we are the only one stop shop for any member of ourcommunity requiring help on all issues from debt advice through welfare support tohousing and family crises. People need to get the message that Copeland CAB is herefor them.