Cash crisis for advice bureau
Thursday, 17th February 2000.
HAVERHILL'S Citizen's Advice Bureau is battling to save extra funding needed to help cope with a huge increase in inquiries.
St Edmundsbury borough councillors had provisionally agreed an extra £4,000 for next year, on top of an allowance of £72,890, but during the latest series of budget cuts in January, the additional cash was withdrawn.
Bureau Manager Brigitte Haig said they were facing an enormous increase in their workload, already dealing with 18,166 inquiries, more than the whole of last year, with two more months to go.
After years of being short of advisors, the Bureau now has five new advisors and others in training. Although they are not paid, advisors receive travelling expenses and often have to attend training in Cambridge or Chelmsford.
Because of the extra staff the Bureau is back to opening on four days a week and they are also running successful outreach sessions at Cangle Junction and the Leiston Centre.
Ron Hartley, Bureau Committee Chairman, has written to every member of the Council's Policy and Resources Committee asking them to reconsider the funding cut. He said: "I have written to explain because I felt perhaps the councillors were not aware of the circumstances. I think they feel it is being frittered away, but there has been a terrific increase in the number on enquiries and we are training more advisers than we have done for some time.
"Our benefits advisers and money specialists have gained probably £1 million in back money or payments people will get in the future, by their work on clients behalf.
"I know the borough may well have some difficulties in their finances, but by cutting CABs they are not necessarily going to improve the situation for people."
St Edmundsbury borough councillors had provisionally agreed an extra £4,000 for next year, on top of an allowance of £72,890, but during the latest series of budget cuts in January, the additional cash was withdrawn.
Bureau Manager Brigitte Haig said they were facing an enormous increase in their workload, already dealing with 18,166 inquiries, more than the whole of last year, with two more months to go.
After years of being short of advisors, the Bureau now has five new advisors and others in training. Although they are not paid, advisors receive travelling expenses and often have to attend training in Cambridge or Chelmsford.
Because of the extra staff the Bureau is back to opening on four days a week and they are also running successful outreach sessions at Cangle Junction and the Leiston Centre.
Ron Hartley, Bureau Committee Chairman, has written to every member of the Council's Policy and Resources Committee asking them to reconsider the funding cut. He said: "I have written to explain because I felt perhaps the councillors were not aware of the circumstances. I think they feel it is being frittered away, but there has been a terrific increase in the number on enquiries and we are training more advisers than we have done for some time.
"Our benefits advisers and money specialists have gained probably £1 million in back money or payments people will get in the future, by their work on clients behalf.
"I know the borough may well have some difficulties in their finances, but by cutting CABs they are not necessarily going to improve the situation for people."
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