MSE News: Citizens Advice funding cuts leave 10,000s without help

meher

JimmyTheWig wrote: »

But presumably, meher, the money goes on the experts rather than the volunteers.
If the money is cut then the experts are cut and who is left to support the volunteers?

You want me to worry about the volunteers or about the concerns for those who look for advise at large? Looks like some of you are worried about volunteers and experts losing their jobs - I suspect they have been losers anyway, if not what's stopping them from continuing to do what they did? I'm still waitinf for an answer and I'm only interested in the truth. And no I could care two hoots about the volunteer or expertise status - they mean none nil nada zilch to me if I may be honest. I'm suggesting that if you want funding, then prove that you're fit to be funded and CAB has failed, and monumentally so and thankfully the tax payers have decided enough is enough it through the electorate - now is there somehting else that I'm missing?

immoral_angeluk

meher wrote: »

You want me to worry about the volunteers or about the concerns for those who look for advise at large? Looks like some of you are worried about volunteers and experts losing their jobs - I suspect they have been losers anyway, if not what's stopping them from continuing to do what they did? I'm still waitinf for an answer and I'm only interested in the truth. And no I could care two hoots about the volunteer or expertise status - they mean none nil nada zilch to me if I may be honest. I'm suggesting that if you want funding, then prove that you're fit to be funded and CAB has failed, and monumentally so and thankfully the tax payers have decided enough is enough it through the electorate - now is there somehting else that I'm missing?

I'm not sure I follow your point about how volunteers and experts have been losers? Can you elaborate a bit as to me it sounds as if you're basically saying that such people are only in CAB because they can't get employment anywhere else. Please correct me if I'm wrong!

davidgmmafan

"The CAB are first of all heavily paid and their remuneration for each member of staff is massive."

Is there a source for this, other than the observation that the top people are paid loads (as is the case in justabout any other organization).

From what I can recall the paid people weren't involved in the sort of cushy number people on here seem to be suggesting. If you were going for a paid position there would be funding for a set period of time. Could be six months, could be twelve, could be less. But even that wasn't certain.

So yeah you'd perhaps make decent money but a lot of people would take a lower salary in return for some job security.

There ARE volunteers at CAB, lots of them, but as has already been pointed out some thing are so complex that you can't just do it in your spare time...

Maybe the CAB does need to change, perhaps it can start with people on here who are knocking it getting involved and arguing for the changes they propose from within. It might not be so straight forward as has been suggested, but hey a good idea is a good idea right?

meher

Well angel, I think they have to prove that they aren't losers by continung to offer the service they did instead of expecting funding purely to thrive on it. I'm still asking what's stopping them from continung to offer the services they do. If you look at the OP, it suggests that the numbers have fallen. Several goal posts have been moved with suggestions that there's no roof to work under, no resources of xyz kind when the op doesnt suggest that it has been closed down but just that the number of people they cater to have dropped - where are all the volunteers and the kind of bleeding hearts that I pointed in my first post; I want to know the details of why the numbers have fallen and you'd know that they weren't working for nothing in return as you illustrate. I have a problem with pack of lies trotted out when the truth is there are several people who nicely lived off the tax payer's money and it wasn't unfortunately the advice seekers but the advice givers and when they fail to account for it and instead waffle, NO sane funding agency would offer funds. If I offer funds I'd WANT to see the facts ad fgures and not listen to sanctimonious waffle. It is so damn easy to target the service users and suggest that they are a burden to the tax payer and that those benefiting from council houses are benefiting from what's on offer when the truth of the situation is that so many bloodsuckers among the tenants and these kind of charities are the actual sources that drain the resources. This is nothing but yet another charade to attack the conservative party, not that I've a problem with but stop concocting tall tales, I'll not only buy into nothing but can also see through it all unless you prove to me they work for nothing as you all appear to claim ironically in the same breath demanding funds. When recession hits the wise thing to do is actually show that you're indispesable and not be a burden that the CAB are. I for one am terribly glad that it is dawning to funders that this is no longer a benevelont service.

immoral_angeluk

meher wrote: »

Well angel, I think they have to prove that they aren't losers by continung to offer the service they did instead of expecting funding purely to thrive on it. I'm still asking what's stopping them from continung to offer the services they do. If you look at the OP, it suggests that the numbers have fallen. Several goal posts have been moved with suggestions that there's no roof to work under, no resources of xyz kind when the op doesnt suggest that it has been closed down but just that the number of people they cater to have dropped - where are all the volunteers and the kind of bleeding hearts that I pointed in my first post; I want to know the details of why the numbers have fallen and you'd know that they weren't working for nothing in return as you illustrate. I have a problem with pack of lies trotted out when the truth is there are several people who nicely lived off the tax payer's money and it wasn't unfortunately the advice seekers but the advice givers and when they fail to account for it and instead waffle, NO sane funding agency would offer funds. If I offer funds I'd WANT to see the facts ad fgures and not listen to sanctimonious waffle. It is so damn easy to target the service users and suggest that they are a burden to the tax payer and that those benefiting from council houses are benefiting from what's on offer when the truth of the situation is that so many bloodsuckers among the tenants and these kind of charities are the actual sources that drain the resources. This is nothing but yet another charade to attack the conservative party, not that I've a problem with but stop concocting tall tales, I'll not only buy into nothing but can also see through it all unless you prove to me they work for nothing as you all appear to claim ironically in the same breath demanding funds. When recession hits the wise thing to do is actually show that you're indispesable and not be a burden that the CAB are. I for one am terribly glad that it is dawning to funders that this is no longer a benevelont service.

Do you mean how do the advisers and CAB's account for the use of funding?
When I say they work for nothing, I mean the advisers. There's a big difference between what happens from an adviser levels to what happens at management/funding levels, and the advisers themselves and little to no say or affect on the funding that bureaus receive.
I don't really see how CAB are a burden, yes advice costs money but at present this is totally free to the clients, so the costs have to be paid somehow for that service to be provided which is why funding is important. The vast majority of people who use the service are grateful and don't see CAB as a burden on the taxpayer, but then that's generally because the people who use the service are often in fairly desperate situations and are just grateful for the help.

Newly_retired

I am a volunteer advisor for CAB and am wondering what axe meher has to grind.
My local CAB is well funded, which enables us to help more clients. If we lost some of our funding, we would see fewer clients - simples! The needs are still there, but there would be fewer staff to meet those needs and less money to keep to building open and phone lines running.
Last April, half of our debt unit team ( paid staff) were about to be made redundant. A last minute source of funding meant they were kept on, so the number of clients being helped with their debts remained more or less constant. Other wise it would have been cut by almost half. The debt team are paid and most work full time. They have all been trained and have expertise and the time to handle clients' debts and deal with creditors. Many of these clients are very vulnerable, and would risk eviction / repossession etc.
We do not judge them, we help them, without charge. I say "we" as trained volunteers often do see debt clients, often for a first appointment, or to help them maximise their income.
The first level of volunteer training enables a receptionist to give a friendly welcome to clients and book them in. The next level of volunteer is trained to give an initial assessment either face to face or on the phone, yes, using Advice Guide and other information. Many clients are signposted elsewhere eg Consumer Direct or are referred to our debt team or to our linked Legal Aid team ( paid, qualified solicitors).
The third level of training means we can see clients and give advice in an hour's appointment. This is free, unbiased, non-judgmental and confidential. We help people with benefits, redundancy, housing, divorce enquiries, to name a few.
The costs of running this service are rent, heat and light, telephones, stationery, equipment, admin, training, supervision by paid staff and volunteers' travel expenses. Some of our volunteers are retired like me, or Job Seekers, or mums finding their way back into employment.
We give HUGE value for money. Most clients are very grateful.
In addition we can pass on information to national CAB HQ where it is collated and used to campaign against the injustices of various regulations. I don't begrudge those staff their salaries, nor those who keep our massive information systems up to date.
I dare say that top level executives are overpaid, but this is the same in any big organisation. It is beyond our control.

meher

Newly_retired wrote: »

am wondering what axe meher has to grind.

It's not me to support the status quo specially if it is obscene:

Newly_retired wrote: »

I dare say that top level executives are overpaid, but this is the same in any big organisation.

... and there's never going to be a first on that

Newly_retired wrote: »

It is beyond our control.

if it is not in your control, then the tax payers through funding agencies will take control as you can see

pmlindyloo

I really think this thread should be moved to Discussion Time!

DavidP24

I have seen the VERY REAL IMPACT of these cuts, I volunteer locally helping people with a mental disability.

Last year the father of somone I was helping was facing financial difficulties and could not get access to advice from the CAB, they ended up hanging themselves right opposite the local council offices.

Today I was trying to help another chap who has had his housing benefit suspended, I had referred him to the CAB but he said it was hopeless.

The website told him to call the 0844 411 1444 number that said nobody from CAB was available to take his call, he has called several times a day everyday, it seems a permanent message and refers people to debt lines but that is not his problem.

So he called the 0300 330 0650 number but it said it was only for mobiles and so referred him back to 0844 411 1444

So he called the local number, it said if this is your first call then call the 0844 411 1444 number which dumps you or if you have an existing case then leave a message for the reception, he did but got no call back.

So he went to the drop in sessions, there he had to queue with around 50 to 70 people, he had to say what his problem was with no privacy and was given a reference number and told they would call him.

They did call back but offered NO ADVICE instead they sent him a leaflet that was of no use at all.

I tried myself to call and I got the same thing.

The chap is suicidal and this is the LAST time I ever refer anyone to the CAB, as far as I am concerned the Citizens Advice Bureau no longer exists.

Newly_retired

It all depends on what funding is available - each bureau has to get its own funding so it can vary across the country.