Couple fear for future if CAB can’t be saved
We’d be lost without the service, says Christine
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Jack Thomson
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A Paisley woman says she doesn’t know what she would do without the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB), if the service was to close.
Christine Campbell and her husband Jimmy rely on employment support allowance – a form of benefit for those who cannot work because of illness or disability.
When a misunderstanding saw her benefit reduced, Christine turned to the Paisley CAB for help and staff at the organisation were able to offer vital support.
The 64- year- old, who has bipolar disorder, explained the stress of the situation has affected her mental health but the CAB was able to step in and provide her with vital help.
She said: “I went to the Citizen’s Advice Bureau last year. I thought ‘I can’t go on with this. I can’t afford this’.
“Their Dan Lockyer called the ESA department and they kept arguing with him. I couldn’t believe how professional this chap was.”
The bureau was able to ensure the situation was resolved and Christine was full of admiration for the Renfrewshire team.
She added: “If it wasn’t for CAB I wouldn’t know what I was doing. They have fixed everything for me.”
The CAB is currently facing a £115,000 cash shortfall after a new council tendering process left bosses struggling to cover basic running costs.
It used to receive a yearly grant from Renfrewshire Council but worried bureau chiefs said a new £ 242,000 contract doesn’t cover all its running costs, such as staffing, office space, phone costs, recruitment and training of volunteers.
With the future of the service in doubt, 22 jobs could be lost and 43 volunteers shown the door.
Christine is worried about the potential repercussions of losing the service in the community.
“If something goes wrong again, I wouldn’t have anyone to go to,” she said.
“It’s been a really hard time. My husband had to retire six years ago because of ill health, so we are relying on benefits to help pay our bills.
“Both of us are disabled. I’m mentally disabled. I’m bipolar, and I’ve got depression.
“CAB have been doing everything for me, it’s been such a relief.
“It’s taken the pressure off me and I don’t know what I’d do without them.”
A spokeswoman for the Department for Work and Pensions said: “We want to ensure that disabled people get all the support they’re entitled to.
“If Christine Campbell would like to get in touch with us, we will be able to look into her case.”