2014-15, our busiest ever year

2014-15. Our busiest ever year.

Last year was the busiest for the Bureau. We helped 7,033 unique individuals who came to us for help with 13,034 problems. A little over half of those people were from Torfaen, the remainder from the surrounding areas and those across Wales and England who we helped via Adviceline and Webchat.

In 2014-15 we helped 5% of the adult population in Torfaen and across the last two years we have helped 10%, over 6,800 individual people from the Borough.

For those 7,033 people who contacted us last year we were able to help them to the tune of £18m in benefit, debts managed and other financial gains.

39% of people came to us with debt problems, 34% about benefits, 6% with housing problems, 5% with employment issues and 4% with relationship or family law matters.

A third of our clients have a disability or life limiting long term illness.

Fareshare in Blaenavon

Torfaen CAB are exploring bringing a Fareshare food hamper scheme for low income families to our Blaenavon Outreach. With help and support from Torfaen Communities First we hope to be able to offer the service to 40 families locally each week. You can find out more about Fareshare at www.fareshare.org.uk 


New Branding
The new Citizens Advice branding starts to go live acorss the country this month. You will have already noticed the new branding across all Citizens Advice websites and we hope to follow suit as soon as the image library is released to us. We have requested to become an early adopter bureau so we are hopeful of a fresh new image soon.

Bring in your Mugshots

With an ever growing and changing team of staff and volunteers we have to put some effort into getting to know one an other. We want to create a staff and volunteers board with photographs, names and responsibilities where relevant. 

PLEASE can you bring in or email to mal.edgson@torfaencab.org.uk a photograph of yourself for the board. We promise we will not use it for any other purpose.

Dates

Next Bureau Team meeting: Wed 17th June at 1 - 4pm All staff and volunteers are welcome.

Bank Holiday closures: Mon & Tue 25/26 May; Mon 31 Aug.

Christmas Closure: The Bureau will be closed from 12.30pm on Thu 24th Dec and will reopen on Mon 4th Jan 2016. There will be no outreach sessions on Thu 24th. Bureau staff will need to take annual leave on the following days. 24th (half day), 30th, 31st Dec.

Feedback

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

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