TAMESIDE CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU LTD
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Mission Statement
Our aims and principles The Citizens Advice service aims: • To provide the advice people need for the problems they face. • To improve the policies and practices that affect people’s lives. The service provides free, independent, confidential and impartial advice to everyone on their rights and responsibilities. It values diversity, promotes equality and challenges discrimination. The principles of CAB advice Independent – we will always act in the interests of our clients, without influence from any outside bodies. Impartial – we don’t judge our clients or make assumptions about them. Our service is open to everyone, and we treat everyone equally. Confidential – we won’t pass on anything a client tells us – or even the fact that they’ve visited us – without their permission. Free – no-one has to pay for any part of the service we provide. How CAB advisers can help There are a number of different ways that CAB advisers can help people to resolve a problem. Advisers don’t tell clients what to do, but explain their options and the possible outcomes of different courses of action. Clients are encouraged to make their own decisions and act on their own behalf. We enable clients to manage their own problems by focusing on their needs as individuals. CAB advisers, most of whom are trained volunteers can: • interview clients face-to-face and by phone to find out what the problem(s) are • access our regularly updated electronic information database for up to the minute information • help clients to negotiate with companies or service providers such as creditors or to appeal against decisions, for example, welfare benefit claims • write letters or phone companies and service providers on behalf of clients • help clients to prioritise their problems, for example, to sort out which debts are most important • help clients with form filling, for example, to claim for welfare benefits • represent clients in court and at tribunals • refer clients to CAB specialist caseworkers for complex problems
About This Cause
What Tameside Citizen’s advice bureau does Citizens Advice assists people in resolving their legal, money and other problems by providing free information and advice and by influencing policymakers nationally. Citizens Advice also co-ordinates social policy, media, publicity and parliamentary work and maintains an information and advice website at www.adviceguide.org.uk which receives over 600,000 visits per month. Formed in 1966, Tameside Citizens Advice Bureau provides free, confidential, impartial and independent advice from Ashton town centre and from 10 outreach locations across Tameside. The Borough of Tameside is served by one district Citizens Advice Bureau for all residents and we are currently experiencing a large increase in the numbers of clients approaching our service across a number of enquiry types, most notably debt, welfare benefits and employment. There has been a large increase in the number of clients approaching us with health or disability issues . Advice is available face-to-face and by telephone, we offer home visits, generalist advice and direct specialist referral, to debt, immigration, housing, family, employment and community care specialists. Gateway assessments (triage) . Generalist advice is undertaken by both paid and volunteer advisers. Outreach advice is provided by paid staff. We help people resolve their debt, benefits, consumer, housing, legal, discrimination, employment, immigration, community care and health related problems and are available to everyone regardless of race, gender, sexuality, age, nationality, disability or religion. We operate an equal opportunities policy which provides for all clients and staff alike. As an organisation we have provided generalist and specialist advice and information across Tameside for 43 years. It is delivered by a combination of paid staff and volunteers and funded largely, under contract, by TMBC with additional resources being provided by housing associations, government offices, Tameside adult services and through public donations. We also deliver specialist debt and employment advice internally through our own staff and facilitate other specialist projects funded through BIS. We have held the Legal Service Quality mark for generalist information and advice for 13 years. We aim, through the provision of free, confidential, impartial and independent advice throughout Tameside, to reduce barriers to moving into employment or training and to improve their well being We view Barriers which preclude people from seeking employment as being , welfare benefits problems, employment rights, housing and debt and deprivation and health related issues, we would address these issues through the provision of appropriate advice at an easily accessible location We will also endeavour to advise clients on maximizing household income . Access to our specialist Employment Caseworker is available at the main bureau , which will assist in tackling work based problems which may in many cases, without advice result in dismissals, resignations and ultimately worklessness. In today's society with its pressures and constantly changing legislation it is not surprising that so many people need reliable information and that more and more turn to CAB for help. They need their problems solved and the peace of mind that brings. A high volume of our work surrounds the issue of poverty and deprivation. Almost a third of enquiries are in the Welfare Benefits field, plus large numbers of clients seeking our help on Debt, Housing matters, Employment problems, personal and family relationships, etc. Not only do we deal with simple enquiries but also take complex issues through to a conclusion, involving formally advocating or representing our clients. We have a web site detailing our functions and encouraging access to volunteering at www.tamesidecab.org.uk and adviceguide.org.uk