Southend Adult Community College is delighted that the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) will now be holding regular drop-in surgeries at its Southchurch Centre, Ambleside Drive.
Trish Carpenter, Manager of the CAB Southend will be on hand to answer your questions this Monday 30th April from 18:30 until 20:30.
Trish will be offering confidential advice on anything from financial problems and faulty goods, to benefit checks, housing queries or employment concerns and will be more than happy to help anyone make appointments for a more in-depth interview at a later date.
A regular slot at the College for the drop-in sessions has been arranged for the last Monday of every month. The sessions are for the use of all Southend residents and there is ample free parking and a cafe on site, future session dates are:
· 28/5/12
· 25/6/12
· 23/7/12
· 24/9/12
· 26/11/12
Stephen Lay, Principal of Southend Adult Community College said: ”This is a great example of the College working in partnership with other organisations in the town for the benefit of all residents. I am very keen for the College to be recognised as an asset for the whole community and seen to be working with other services that promote lifelong learning.”
CAB advisers, most of whom are trained volunteers can:
Interview clients face-to-face and by phone to find out what the problem(s) are
Access the regularly updated electronic information database for up to the minute information
Help clients to negotiate with companies or service providers such as creditors or to appeal against decisions, for example, welfare benefit claims
Write letters or phone companies and service providers on behalf of clients
Help clients to prioritise their problems, for example, to sort out which debts are most important
Help clients with form filling, for example, to claim for Disability Living Allowance
Refer clients to CAB specialist caseworkers for complex problems or to other agencies when appropriate
