New services, New people

Financial Advice

From September Citizens Advice Torfaen will be able to offer financial advice under a new program called MoneyPlan. Under MoneyPlan a qualified financial adviser will offer services as a volunteer. Clients can be referred to this service on a fortnightly basis initially.

Pensions changes to criteria

Please note that Pensionwise is now available to clients aged 50 or over and not 55 as previously

Energy Efficient Homes

Citizens Advice Torfaen have secured funding to offer clients advice on grants to improve the energy efficiency of their homes. Natalie Hopkins will lead on this project which will advice 120 clients between now and the end of March. The project is also funded for home visits. This project is in addition to the Energy Best Deal project which advises on supplier switching.

Introduction to benefits for volunteer advisers

Our next Team Meeting (Wed 16 September) will feature a full session on an introduction to welfare benefits. This will be ideal training for advice volunteers and other staff wanting to know more. The session will be led by our Lead Benefits caseworker, Lesley Cave.

Operations Manager

Samantha Greenland has accepted our new post of Operations Manager. Sam comes to us with a background in trading standards where she has been a Trading Standards Officer in Blaenau Gwent, a Regional Officer for the Welsh Local Government Association and most recently a Project Support Officer for the All Wales Academy Project.

Sam will be key to the next phase of development for the Bureau, supporting both the operational delivery of our client service and the development of new funding streams. Sam's first day in the Bureau will be Thu 10th September. The position is pert time.

New starters

This week we welcome Martha Smith-Higgins and Francesca Breet

New on the Advice Rota : Justine George, Jade Ngai and Cynthia King

There are a number of adviser courses coming up as follows, please see David Roberts if you are interested.

15^th and 16^th September - Bristol

22^nd and 23^rd September - Birmingham

7^th and 8^th October – Cardiff

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