We’ve just seen this on the Rochford and Rayleigh Citizens Advice Bureau website:
14.06.11
In spite of recently announced cuts in Voluntary Sector Grants to charities in Rochford District, Rochford & Rayleigh Citizens Advice Bureau is set to continue advising the community on debt, benefits, housing, employment and many more areas of daily living but are having to reduce their opening hours at both offices.
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Disappointingly their primary core funding from the Council has been cut by almost 30% this year. Around 70 volunteers give their time freely week by week to help others in the community and are supported by 7 part time paid staff, ensuring the organisation runs smoothly and quality is maintained.
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Sue Murray, District Manager, said ?In order to survive and continue to provide a vital service to the community it has been necessary to announce staff reductions and opening hours will be cut from 4th July. We are all passionate to see the service continue to enable clients to receive advice at critical times in their lives but need to provide this within our financial resources. The reduced opening hours will cause additional pressure on our workers and clients seeking advice but we are doing everything we can to try and reduce this as much as possible. We continue to work with the Council to improve the service in the coming months. Every effort will be made to maintain a meaningful service to improve the lives of those in need within our community.?
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?The new reduced opening hours will be announced at the end of June. In the meantime we would encourage people to seek advice sooner rather than later. One client said recently, ?I knew that if we had asked sooner things would not have been so bad?.?
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Mark Francois MP will be addressing their Annual Open Meeting at 5pm on Friday 1st July 2011 at the Council Chambers, Civic Suite, Hockley Road, Rayleigh SS6 8EB. All are welcome.
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If you would like to support the charity please contact Sue on bureau@rayleighcab.org.uk or on 012 68 77 9747.