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

Tygermoth

Ok, I am fairly laid back. I am not political. I don’t campaign for anything......

However this is terrible and if you tell me how to fight your corner CAB I will be a voice for you. Tell me what petitions to sign and I will go get a pen. Show me how to help you and I will be there. You are national treasure of untold value that needs to be here for us all.


Please tell me how I can help.

andrewsimpson2

hey dd and all in the cab, its terrible news and i truly hope your jobs are ok.

cuts we need i agree, but the banking sectors bonuses and mps expenses seem to escaped the cuts 'that we are all in together' all unless your in a certain sector it seems. if we as workers lied as mps do seem to almost daily we would be unemployed at least and maybe in prison..................

my place of work has to save lots of money so our future is uncertain too. heres hoping we all have a future when the cutting stops............

without the cab i would have sunk for sure.

thinking of you all

sillygirl73

I can't believe what I've been reading:mad:...........without my wonderful case worker who has supported me since May, and is preparing me for BR and mortgage rescue, I don't know what I would have done. Having never used my local CAB until last year, I had no idea of the amazing work that the specialist debt advisors do.....did not even realise that they existed. Was all set to employ an IP.......thank goodness for CAB.
I am only part way through the process and the worst is yet to come for me, and am now terrified that I will be going it alone without the wonderful 'hand holding', support and advice I have had from her. I can't believe that this has been allowed to happen. I have already e-mailed my MP, for what its worth.

InnerDemon

The CAB help so many people when they need it most, often having nowhere else to turn to. It would be a tragedy if we lost this vital service. I dread to think what will happen to those in desperate need of help then. Where would they turn to?

To all those in the CAB, I hope your jobs are safe, we need you guys, without you many would still be lost.

fatbelly

The following has been circulated by the CAB:

On 19th January, at Parliamentary Questions, Harriet Baldwin MP asked the Chancellor “when he plans to make an announcement on the future of the Financial Inclusion Fund. Mark Hoban, the Economic Secretary provided a written response which stated: “The Financial Inclusion Fund will close at the end of March this year. The Government will work closely with industry and other stakeholders to ensure that tackling financial exclusion remains a high priority.”

The written response from Mark Hoban also included: “The previous Government committed the financial inclusion taskforce to a five-year life. The problem is ensuring that inclusion becomes a mainstream financial services issue and is not seen as something on the margins. That is why I will work closely with the financial services sector and other interested parties to see how we can best take forward the work of the financial inclusion taskforce. It is not an issue for those on the margins; it is an issue that should be taken seriously from bank boards to bank branches.”

Therefore in effect, Mr Hoban has simply confirmed what we have all known for a considerable time, that the current Financial Inclusion Fund funding (which as well as debt advice also consists of funding for credit unions, and other financial inclusion initiatives) will end on 31st March 2011, but does indicate that mainstreaming is still on the agenda.

Citizens Advice is proactively continuing to talk to Government about central Government funding for debt advice. We have raised this issue with Ministers, as have many others; including the Financial Inclusion Taskforce. At the current time, it is understood that a number of Ministers are currently considering whether there might be any ability to fund any extension to the current services beyond the end date of 31st March 2011. Please be assured that we are urging Ministers to conclude on that consideration as soon as possible. We will of course share any further news with you as soon as it becomes available.

In the meantime, it remains necessary and prudent to plan for any future contingency: this includes the potential end as well as the potential continuation of current FIF programme funded services.

Finally, if you have not yet briefed your MP, please do so as soon as possible. It is vitally important at this time to ensure your representative is aware of the potential impact of the loss of central Government funding on your ability to deliver a debt advice service in your local area. A number of MPs are becoming engaged on this issue and many more will help to protect our front line debt advice services.

debt_doctor

Cit Ad are kidding themselves. The minister will continue to 'talk' until it's too late and every FiF worker has gone. If they miss the opportunity to fight RIGHT NOW then it will be gone forever.

Trollfever

23 May 2008
Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor Vince Cable was named Citizens Advice Parliamentarian of 2008 at a reception on the Terrace of the House of Commons on Wednesday (21 May).
The MP for Twickenham was chosen for his strong record of working on local issues affecting CAB clients and for his record on fighting nationally for many of the issues that Citizens Advice has been campaigning on, including changes to the 10p tax bracket and the need for a national generic financial advice service, as well as taking banks to task over irresponsible lending.

http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/index/pressoffice/press_index/press_20080523

fermi

Apparently Martin has asked MSE Wendy to make a comment on this thread on his/MSE's behalf.

JPS29

Havent been on these sides of the forum for ages now and was shocked to see this whilst skimming through.

Been said by many but this is just a shocking place to make cutbacks. I dont mean to get political but the Tory line of were all in it together doesnt cut it with me on this one. The majority of tory voters arent on low incomes and/or struggling to keep their heads above water so they're not upsetting their core voters and are definitely looking after their own, yet again.

I'm shocked to see this not in the MSE news but other items such as rural areas chepest broadband and save money on life insurance when you stop smoking are???

If there is a petition put up I would be more than happy to sign and link others towards it.

Best of luck to all who work in this area, and all who may need it's services

alastairq

well...I've emailed my MP....the idea being to make him aware that I'm aware and I'm a voter....

Being a Tory MP, I don't expect much more than a dose of flannel in reply..............

the way things are going, we will end up with a two-tier society...and I can seriously see one tier breaking out in open revolt..........