Post by Colin Henderson on Apr 6, 2012 11:56:24 GMT
Rural Bureaux are struggling to keep branches open. Here's a recent example:
"For a number of years, many people from Bude and North Cornwall have been able to seek advice and support from the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) located at the Neetside Centre in Bude. The Bureau currently opens on Mondays from 10am-2pm, a reduction from the previous three days a week.
Unfortunately, the CAB has had to give six months notice on the offices at the Neetside Centre, from 1 April 2012. This is because funds have not yet been allocated to support the service, though a resolution is being sought in the coming weeks.
Support and advice is given by the CAB on a wide range of issues, with the most frequent areas people ask for help with are about debt, benefit entitlements, employment and housing. In the last 12 months there have been over 500 contacts with clients seeking help from the Bude office.
...
For the last three years, the CAB advice service has been provided by Torridge, North Devon, Mid Devon and Bude CAB, on behalf of Cornwall CAB. The allocation to North Cornwall by Cornwall CAB for 2012/13 is not yet known.
The money Cornwall CAB uses to pay for CAB advice provision ultimately comes from Cornwall Council. It is expected that the funds available to support the CAB in Bude from April 2012 will be lower than in previous years because of public sector budget cuts.
Torridge, North Devon, Mid Devon and Bude Citizens Advice Bureau is committed to providing advice and support to the people of Bude and North Cornwall, and over the next few weeks will be seeking to resolve matters with Cornwall CAB..."
