The Buffs present a cheque to the Citizens Advice Bureau

Brother Andrew Anderson CP of the Harmony Lodge of the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes presented a cheque for £250.00 to Jo Drydale of the Fund Raising Group at the Scarborough CAB.

On behalf of the CAB, Jo expressed her heartfelt thanks for this marvellous donation. She explained the money will go into the general fund and will be used to replace worn out fittings and fixtures, that are needed to enable the staff to do the work in the Bureau.

She also explained that they were a Charity and had to raise funds to function. She also told them that she had written to the Clubs and Pubs in town asking for their help in raising money for CAB and she knew they would all back the Bureau if they could.

A Change at the Top

Goodbye to Dorothy Clegg

From left, Jill Mandy, manager, Pat Chandler, the new Chair, Dorothy Clegg, and John Truscott, volunteer advisor The chair of Scarborough & District CAB - which deals with around 16,000 enquiries per year - has stepped down after five years.

Dorothy Clegg has been succeeded by Pat Chandler, 61, of Elm Grove, Robin Hood's Bay.

Mrs Clegg, who lives in Whitby, said: "I am proud to have been chair of such a vital organisation which helps thousands of local people facing problems and crises. Not many people realise that the bureau is a charity that relies on volunteers. I would like to thank them and the team for their dedication and hard work over the last five years. The bureau is now on a sound footing and facing the future positively. It will continue to help people from all walks of life throughout the borough."

Mrs Chandler said: "Mrs Clegg has given freely of her time, energy and experience over the years and we are grateful for her valuable contribution. I am pleased she will be staying on board to help me find my feet."

She added: "We are always looking for people to volunteer: There are opportunities for trustees, fundraisers, receptionists and office workers, as well as advisers. If you have time to spare, why not join us?" Anyone interested should call 01723 368710

John Fawcett, former secretary to the Mayor of Scarborough, has joined the management board of the bureau.

Volunteers step out for vital funding

Staff at Scarborough's Citizens Advice Bureau stepped out on a sponsored walk in June 2006 to raise their profile.

Staff, volunteers, families and friends walked from Cloughton Station to Hayburn Wyke. The final pennies are still being counted but we can report (August 2006) that more than £300 was raised. Charity Walkers

Jo Drydale, a member of the fund raising team and volunteer worker at the Bureau said "People always think we are funded by the Government, and we are not. So we need to use a variety of means to raise money."

From Economics to Ergonomics

Mrs Drydale said the money would go towards new chairs (including a special one for clients with back problems) in the reception area and maintenance and repair of computers as required. "Every day at the bureau is different. You can deal with all sorts, from people wanting housing advice to getting divorced. If any pubs, clubs or others would be willing to hold an event for us to help us raise money please ring me at the bureau - (01723) 354795. "

Advice Bureau pilots Veterans Aid

Scarborough CAB leads the way - (Click here for JUNE 2006 UPDATE)

The Ministry of Defence's Veterans Challenge Fund is helping underpin a number of Citizens Advice bureaux projects aimed at veterans and their dependents, ranging from the preparation of promotional material to the establishment of a new outreach project in Tidworth, Wiltshire. In this issue, Veterans WORLD focuses on a case study from one such project in North Yorkshire.

Veterans World Newsletter Scarborough CAB has appointed a dedicated adviser to coordinate a project working with local ex-Service organizations to publicize its services and provide advice direct to veterans. The project started in June 2005 and already there have been positive outcomes.

HENRY ROWLANDS, CAB's dedicated veterans adviser, highlights one example of how quickly things can happen if organizations work together.

"In July, I went to see an ex-Serviceman who had visited the bureau with his carer a few days earlier on the issue of a landlord's responsibilities for repairs. The client was living in private rented property that was being repaired. Unfortunately the landlord had gone off on holiday for a month and the repair work had stopped leaving the flat in an appalling state of disrepair.

"It was obvious that the flat was uninhabitable. Indeed, the client was at the time sleeping on the floor. After checking that he was in receipt of all welfare benefits to which he was entitled, I contacted the local SSAFA Forces Help representative and within a few days we had arranged a fortnight's respite care for him in a British legion Home in Wales.

"I also managed to contact the landlord and get the repair work restarted. The Home came and picked up the client and brought him back after his stay. During his time away the landlord had finished the renovations and the flat was ready for occupation.

"Whilst the client was in the Home I also contacted the War Pensioners' Welfare Service (WPWS) which is now endeavoring to find suitable alternative accommodation which can be adapted to his needs. As an alternative again, WPWS is negotiating other suitable long term accommodation together with support for new claims for Housing Benefits and Council Tax Benefit."

This is but one of many successful case examples from the Scarborough project from which much good practice may be learned. It is also a prime example of how multi-agency approaches can best solve seemingly intractable problems.

UPDATE - June 2006 ... The Bureau has been given more cash to allow it to continue a scheme aimed at helping former servicemen and women live a better life.
Scarborough CAB was the first in the country to pilot a new scheme aimed at helping veterans with a variety of problems including homelessness, health, finance, employment, disability and pensions.
A total of £2,000 was given to set up the scheme in June 2005 and the money has now run out. The Government's Veterans Agency, however, has now agreed to provide £1,700 for the project to be continue. The success of the scheme has led to other bureaux in different parts of the country copying Scarborough.
Henry Rowlands, money advice worker, said "Since we started the scheme 24 clients have been assisted including ex-service personnel through to their families and children. They range in age from those in their 80s to teenagers. Some of the work was one-off advice whilst others needed, and continue to need, ongoing help and assistance.
"The majority of those who used the service did so after reading an article in the Evening News. It is intended that the new funding will be used to pay for a specialist advisor working from the Scarborough bureau."
It is expected the specialist will work from 5th June to the end of August. Anyone wishing to make an appointment whould ring (01723) 354795. Arrangements can be made for a home visit if necessary. People in Filey or Whitby who cannot make it to Scarborough can ring the same number and arrangements will be made for them to be seen at the burea in either of those towns.

For more information on the Scarborough project call Sam McQueen, Project Manager, National Development Team, Citizens Advice, on 01223 356322 or e-mail him at sam.mcqueen@citizensadvice.org.uk

MONEY ADVICE WORKER APPOINTED

Frances Butt-Philip was appointed in September 2006 as Money Advice Worker to help clients with their debts. This post is funded by the government's Financial Inclusion Fund for at least one and a half years.
Anonymous Donation

CAB gets a £50 boost

WHITBY charity workers would like to thank the anonymous donor who sent them a brown envelope containing cash. Staff at Whitby's Citizens Advice Bureau were delighted to find five £10 notes when they opened the envelope but were left mystified as there was no name or letter with the money.
CAB manager Jill Mandy said they had received a similar donation once before and although they are not trying to identify the donor they would like to say a big thank you to him or her.

"Thank you very much indeed",she said. "We will use the money wisely to help the people of Whitby. We are a charity and we do accept donations and if someone is anonymous we will respect that anonymity, but we would like to say thank you. Certainly in our experience a lot of people who give us money are people who have been to us for help in the past. And we will spend this money on helping somebody else."

County Cash ...

... for proposed Money Advice Worker

SCARBOROUGH Citizens Advice Bureau is to appoint a "money advice worker" to help local people who get into debt. A report to North Yorkshire County Council's community fund committee says the bureau is currently helping to manage £3.4 million of consumer debt for clients.

The report adds: "Prevention is the most important way of controlling the homelessness crisis which is affecting the borough. The money advice worker will work across agencies to identify households with debt problems that threaten their ability to sustain their accommodation."

The committee has agreed to give £33,225 over the next two years to help fund the new advice worker. "This application is a brand-new initiative that will enhance and complement existing statutory advice provision by Scarborough Council and other agencies in this area", says the report.

"The Citizens Advice Bureau is currently the only organisation to provide debt counselling and volunteer workers are currently managing £3.4 million of consumer debt for clients."

Debt in Whitby

Town debt spirals to more than £500,000

More and more people are seeking help from Whitby Citizens Advice Bureau as their debts spiral out of control. The CAB is currently handling 45 cases for Whitby residents with a total debt exceeding £500,000.

Jill Mandy, manager of Scarborough & District CAB, said that the majority of the queries she deals with are money related. "More and more people are coming to see us since the law on filing for bankruptcy was changed. We are getting people who have a debt of such a size that they have no realistic way of paying it off. They might have a debt of £80,000 and can only afford to pay off £50 per month. People are now drawing a line under their debts and walking away. We have taken to referring people out, where possible, to other organisations because we simply cannot handle it. We do see a lot of people with financial problems."

She said that the majority of debt owed by Whitby people being helped by the CAB is from bank loans and overdrafts amounting to more than £190,000 while £90,000 is owed in credit card bills.

"Many people make the general assumption that debt is caused by people being feckless with their money. In our experience this isn't the case. People can get into debt because their income is so low they can't live on it. If your income's so low, it can mean having to borrow money just to buy your kids a pair of shoes. Another reason is life change - somebody dies, loses their job, becomes ill or gets divorced and can't manage their money any more. Credit isn't a problem as long as it's under control."

The CAB is urging people who take out payment protection insurance on their credit cards or loans to read the small print. She said: "We see a lot of people who have been paying payment protection insurance who don't qualify for it anyway. Be wary when you are sold payment protection and make sure that it does cover what could happen to you."

Reaping the Benefits of Award

New Status for Benefits Team

Staff at Scarborough's Citizens Advice Bureau have a new feather in their cap after achieving a new status which reflects the quality of their service.

The welfare benefits team have achieved the Legal Services Commission Specialist Quality Mark in Welfare Benefits and are the only organisation in Scarborough to have the accolade.Part of the welfare benefits work that the bureau carries out will now be under contract to the Legal Services Commission (formerly Aid).

The staff have had to implement stringent quality control systems to meet the requirements of the Specialist Quality Mark. The whole team will work to this standard. Future clients will be asked for details of their financial circumstances to decide who will see them. Rachel Boyes will run the Legal Services Commission contract and will deal with clients who are eligible for legal aid. Other clients will be seen by Becca Robinson in Whitby and Pete Rothery in Scarborough.

This is the first Legal Services Commission Specialist Quality Mark to be awarded to a not-for-profit organisation in Scarborough.

Law Firm Donates Money!

Cheque it out ...

A local of solicitors have donated money to the Scarborough and Whitby Citizens Advice bureau.

North Yorkshire Law, based in Albemarle Crescent, Scarborough, presented the cash to CAB manager Jill Mandy.

On behalf of North Yorkshire Law, Lillian Hannah-Walker said: "As we are a firm of community solicitors, we try and help out local charities whenever we can. We're happy to support the CAB by donating £125 to the Scarborough branch and £125 to the Whitby branch."

Filey Call Centre

Another Three Years Secured

Lottery Lifeline

The Citizens Advice Bureau call centre in Filey has been given a cash injection of more than £145,000 to keep its telephone advice line going for another three years. More than a year ago the Scarborough and District Citizens Advice bureau faced a cash crisis and announced its bureau could close within a month if it did not raise £50,000.

Through sheer determination and donations from people and businesses in Scarborough, plus a big grant from North Yorkshire County Councijl, they managed to survive. Now they have been given the added bonus of £147,059 in lottery money which will be put towards running the CAB's call centre and in developing a community cntre based in the Evron Centre, Filey.

CAB Manager Jill Manday said: "We have spent January working out what we would do if we did not get this money and had to close the call centre. "We're safe now for another three years and we're committed to providing as much telephone advice as possible. We can see no reason why good advice can't be given over the phone and it's a 24 hour service as we have an automated service when people need advice out of hours.

"The paid staff and the volunteers are all highly delighted that we have been given this chance to extend the service."

The money will also be used to help the CAB develop the community advice centre which was originally set up by the Council for Voluntary Services. This too was in danger of folidng and the lottery cash will ensure it keeps open - all they need now is more support from members of the public. The centre encompassed an advice service, a telephone line which leads directly through to the Job Centre in Scarborough and a computer which has internet access which members of the public can use.

Jill Mandy said that the facilities are ready and available, all they need now is for the community to use them. They need volunteers to help with around 17,000 enquiries a year and needs £250,000 a year to carry out its services: £75,000 comes from local councils, but the Bureau has to raise more than half that figure itself.

When they had the cash crisis, the charity found that donations had dropped. At the time, Chair of the trustees Dorothy Clegg said many of the problems dated back to when Gerald Waterworth was treasurer of the Bureau. He was jailed for 18 months after stealing £200,000 from the Bureau and Scarborough Building Society where he was a director.

"Are You Getting It?"

Raunchy? ...we don't think so!

It was reported in the Scarborough Evening News recently that Scarborough Council had withdrawn and replaced a guide to benefit entitlements because officers had decided the heading "Are You Getting It?" was not an appropriate catchline.

We use it on this Website - Click here to see Pension Credit - because we reckon it's a good eye catcher and it asks a straightfoward question. The Council have re-titled their guide "Extra money - Could you get it?"

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