Happy New Year

A Happy New Year to all At Torfaen CAB

Communities First project

We are very pleased to announce that this project has been funded for an additional year. The projects provides funds for 2 caseworkers to address debt and benefits issues at outreach locations in collaboration with Torfaen Communities First. The project began in Oct 2013.

The Advice Session Supervisor – The NEW ‘Go To’ person for everything.

You have told us very clearly that you think communication needs to be improved in the Bureau. A number of volunteers report that they don’t know who to go to when there is a problem.

We would like to make it clear that ALL problems should be fed through the On Duty Advice Session Supervisor. The Duty ASS will then raise an action with the member of the management team responsible. This will ensure that the ASS is always aware of problems that arise during an advice session and can make compensating arrangements to offset the problem if possible as well as making it easy to remember for everyone else.

The duty ASS is listed on the office diary which can be accessed from any bureau PC and at Cwmbran is also written on the lower office door.

The story of James and the Eviction

Client, a single divorced man living in Bron Afon property had been claiming ESA but stopped doing so because of emotional problems he suffered following a family bereavement. His failure to claim ESA affected his housing benefit and by the time the client started claiming ESA again he was in rent arrears of around £1700. While the client had agreed a repayment plan in November 2014 no payments were made because the client did not receive the payment card Bron Afon had agreed to send to him. Consequently Bron Afon commenced possession proceedings and the client was evicted on 9th December. The client attended the Gateway session in Cwmbran on 10th December the day following the eviction. James telephoned Bron Afon on the clients behalf and they agreed that the client could return to the property if he cleared the arrears. The client was able to clear the arrears the following day and was allowed back into the property.

This case is unusual in that the client was able to find £1700 to pay off the arrears in full but nevertheless shows that even after a tenant has been evicted all is not necessarily lost.

We done James, great result

TAX Help for Older People

TOPS are resuming their monthly clinics in bureau. The next one will take place on Friday 16^th January, 10am to 12 noon.

Advice on wills, probate and powers of attorney

Solicitors Everett and Tomlin have asked if we would like another one of their solicitors to come to the bureau periodically (probably fortnightly) to give advice on wills, probate and powers of attorney. David is currently arranging this and it should be finalised shortly.

New volunteers

This week we are pleased to welcome Abigail Jones, John Hodgetts, David Roberts- Lloyd, Kelly Thompson to our team.

Frontline Debt Advisor from Newport CAB starts soon

As part of the Front line Advice project Lee a Debt caseworker from Newport will be offering Debt advice alongside our team 2days a week starting shortly. This mirrors the arrangement where Andrew provides Benefits casework out of Newport CAB. We will be organising appointments for Lee but he will be supervised out of Newport CAB. I am sure you will make him feel very welcome at Torfaen.

Adviceline style Webchat advice

Following a successful collaborative bid between Torfaen, Cardiff & The Vale, Caerphilly and Merthyr CAB’s we will shortly have an adviser and project manager one day a week to offer webchat general advice and gradually develop a volunteer team to fully operate the service by the end of the 14 month period of start-up funding. This project will be located next to the Advice line desk at Cwmbran.

Team meeting

The next team meeting will take place on Wed 25^th February 1pm – 4pm and will focus on Citizens Advice campaign work with guest speaker from the Cymru campaigns team. All Bureau services will be closed that afternoon so that everyone can attend although the Shelter session will continue as normal.

Bureau closure

The Bureau will next be closed for Easter on Good Friday 3^rd April, Easter Monday 6^th April and Tuesday 7^th April.

Feedback

I always welcome feedback from staff and volunteers, you can ring me up on 01633 876128 send me an email at mal.edgson@torfaencab.org.uk, write me a letter, comment on this blog, place your comment or suggestion in the comments box in the Cwmbran meeting room or come and see me.

This Blog is prepared for the staff and volunteers of Torfaen Citizens Advice Bureau