Looks like the end......... CAB & Financial Inclusion Fund

Bardo_Pond

Many Bureaux had some funding from the local authority - in our case we had 1 paid debt advice worker who supported and supervised a small team of volunteers who took on debt casework. As the years went by our local authority kept reducing the amount they paid us each financial year.

Then along came LSC - we thought this was such an amazing concept as we received money from LSC to have a small team of paid debt specialists: GREAT we thought! However......well, you know how this story ends!

debt_doctor

Hi,

These important debates are happening next week in the Commons.....

Tuesday 8 February
9.30 am – 11 am raised by Yvonne Fovargue MP
- Future funding of independent debt advice

Wednesday 9 February
4.00pm – 4.30pm raised by Jack Dromey MP
- Future of the Citizens Advice Bureaux

It would be very helpful if you could all ask your MP to attend the House at these times (if you think they are sympathetic to the cause!) A quick e-mail is all it needs.


Thanks

DD

geoffky

why people are shocked at this news is beyond me..Tories are no friends of the working man and the citizens advice is a true friend of the unrepresented people...you get what you vote for...why would they help you not pay back their friends in the banks?

dancingfairy

Personally I don't mind if CAB centres are shut providing that there is a replacement and it can be shown to target people more effectively, is better placed and can be more efficient (theerby helping more people). At the moment there doesn't appear to be anything in place at all, let alone anything anyone would think is a reasonable solution.
df

Chris1001

dancingfairy wrote: »

Personally I don't mind if CAB centres are shut providing that there is a replacement and it can be shown to target people more effectively, is better placed and can be more efficient (theerby helping more people). At the moment there doesn't appear to be anything in place at all, let alone anything anyone would think is a reasonable solution.
df

The reason CABx aren't as efficient as everyone would like, is that they are severely underfunded. If more money was available, then all sorts of improvements could be made. As it is they are surviving on a shoe-string. The loss of FIF funding will just make it worse - less supervision, less training, less specialists and less money to pay the rent. We still have our volunteers, but they feel it's like working in a third world country - leaks in the roof, antiquated phone system, shabby offices. I don't blame clients for feeling that this is a service which is not valued by government/local authority. They're right - that is the case.

Penelope_Penguin

debt_doctor wrote: »

It would be very helpful if you could all ask your MP to attend the House at these times (if you think they are sympathetic to the cause!) A quick e-mail is all it needs.

Our free paper has the loss of FIF funding on the front page :T The MP refused to comment :mad: Our previous (Labour) MP would have been out campaigning by now.

shadowside

I thought this letter to our local MP might cause them to take notice

Dear

As you are probably aware our funding for the next financial year will drop by 45% in line with other Citizens Advice Bureaus

We anticipate a continued increase in demand for our services and are therefore looking at how we can most effectively signpost clients elsewhere

For those with problems with government departments DWP, HMRC,CSA the only real alternative is to direct clients to your constituency surgeries so that you can take up their cases directly

Could you please let us have details of your surgeries in 2011 so that we can do this as efficiently as possible



Yours sincerely

leveller2911

geoffky wrote: »

why people are shocked at this news is beyond me..Tories are no friends of the working man and the citizens advice is a true friend of the unrepresented people...you get what you vote for...why would they help you not pay back their friends in the banks?

Oh wake up, do you honestly think the CAB would not be cut if Nu-Labour were still in power? if you do then your deluded.

The problem with this country is "Party Politics" full stop.When MP's vote along party lines instead of whats right for their constituents then there is something seriously wrong with our democracy.

Do you honestly believe that the champagne Socilaist that were the Nu-Labour elite gave a toss about any of the working class? ..!!!!!! the sooner people like you stop playing the blinkered party Politcis bull the sooner we as a country will move on..

The CAB do a great job and should be funded by the tax payer ,but to say Nu-Labour are white Knights and the Condems are the devil is just wrong.

Its very easy for a party in opposition to slate the present Government but not so easy when their own policies have been found to be a failure, who has been in power for 13 years and saddled us with debt re-payments of £250 million per day? How far would £100 million go towards funding CAB?
.

We can debate all day long how Bankers should be dragged over the coals, tax the mega-rich tax avoiders etc but that is exactly what the political elite want , when Jo Public is dis-jointed then they are safe in their Ivory Towers, its when we are united they fear us..

As Liam Byrne said "Theres no money left"..........

Lastly you do this thread no justice playing the Party Politic card.....

fatbelly

debt_doctor wrote: »

Hi,

These important debates are happening next week in the Commons.....

Tuesday 8 February
9.30 am – 11 am raised by Yvonne Fovargue MP
- Future funding of independent debt advice

Wednesday 9 February
4.00pm – 4.30pm raised by Jack Dromey MP
- Future of the Citizens Advice Bureaux

It would be very helpful if you could all ask your MP to attend the House at these times (if you think they are sympathetic to the cause!) A quick e-mail is all it needs.


Thanks

DD

Use WriteToThem.com

debt_doctor

Looks like the debate will be on here in about 5 mins.......

http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Player.aspx?meetingId=7542

.....and that announcement of an extra £800 million from the banks this year - thanks, we can have a chunk of that for clearing up their mess !

DD