CAB helped us to pay the bills and keep our home. This area can’t afford to lose such a vital service...
Jacqui urges council to find the money to keep open the office that helped her family survive
A woman has made a personal plea to the council not to cut vital funding from the Motherwell and Wishaw Citizens Advice Bureau.
Last week, the Wishaw Press revealed that there were proposals on the table which would see the CAB’s funding cut by 50 per cent.
That cut could spell disaster for many of the poorest or most vulnerable people in society.
Among those hoping the council re-consider is Jacqui Malone.
Jacqui, who lives in Wishaw, was a full- time nurse and also a carer for her disabled husband, who is an ex-serviceman, having served in the Royal Signals for seven and a half years.
Due to the pressure she was under she developed her own health issues including depression.
When her husband was diagnosed with lung cancer, Jacqui finally had to give up work to care for him.
Having worked all of her life, Jacqui did not know where to turn for help.
However, she managed to get in touch with a CAB advisor and hasn’t looked back since.
Jacqui said: “The CAB advisor helped me get the benefits in place that both me and my husband were entitled to, allowing us to pay our bills and keep a roof over our heads.
“Not only did the CAB advisor help us financially but it had a hugely positive impact on my mental health, well-being and confidence.
“Please do not let this vital service be lost.
“There is no other agency that offers the help and support the CAB does.”
Last year, the Wishaw office of the CAB dealt with around 5000 clients and 15,000 issues.
CAB manager Kinga Kosakowska said: “Motherwell and Wishaw CAB consistently perform to the highest standards, achieving exceptional results for some of the most vulnerable members of our community year after year.
“Over the last year our expert advice put a total of £5.5million back into the pockets of local people.
“We supported a total of 11,000 local people, deal with 30,000 complex issues across a breadth of advice including benefits, debt, housing, employment, consumer, energy, immigration, tax, family and pensions.
“Our work is more crucial than ever before. However North Lanarkshire Council are planning to slash the CAB’s funds.
“In order to meet the needs of the community, we operate two fulltime offices both in Motherwell and Wishaw.
“This disproportionate cut to our funding may well lead to the closure of Wishaw CAB which has supported the community for more than 20 years.”
It had a hugely positive impact on my mental health