CAB volunteers hailed for outstanding support
Volunteers at the area’s Citizens Advice Bureau have been singled out for some golden praise in the organisation’s 50th anniversary year.
A dedicated team of 22 people give up their time every week to provide invaluable advice and support to people facing hardship across Cambuslang and Rutherglen.
Sharon Hampson, manager of the main office in Cambuslang Main Steet and its bases throughout the area, shared her gratitude for the work CAB volunteers do.
In the organisation’s recentlypublished annual report, Sharon described their work as “invaluable” and insisted that the service simply could not operate without them.
The Princess Royal visited the Cambuslang CAB offices last year to unveil a plaque marking its 50th year in operation.
And in July this year the Reformer revealed how Rutherglen and Cambuslang CAB saved locals almost £2 million last year as people in crisis flooded their offices seeking help.
The CAB team handled 11,000 issues as residents sought support for problems such as delayed benefits payments and spiralling debts.
Fighting on behalf of 4344 individuals last year alone, the citizens advice team saved £1,908,845 for people in poverty.
Sharon Hampson said: “We have 22 volunteer advisers who provide an invaluable service to the clients that drop into the bureau.
“We started out training course in March 2018 and we have 11 trainees who will hopefully complete the course and become advisers.
“The work of the volunteers is crucial to what we do and without them we couldn’t operate.
“Last year we had a visit from Princess Anne, who helped us to commemorate that the bureau has been in operation for 50 years.
“This was a great day and all staff, volunteers and guests were thrilled to be part of this amazing event.
“There was lots of planning involved in this, but it was worth it and helped us celebrate such a milestone.”
Sharon thanked South Lanarkshire Council for funding, council development officer David Reid for continued support, and bureau team member Clare Williamson for her efforts as funding officer.
Sharon added: “My greatest appreciations go to all the staff and volunteers in the bureau who work very hard all year round to help and assist the clients to the best of their ability and always go that extra mile.
“The hard work of volunteers doesn’t go unnoticed and they are an integral part of the bureau and I thank them all very much.”
As well as providing a drop-in service on Cambuslang Main Street, the CAB has a range of outreach programmes across nine communities in the area.
Benefits are the biggest issue facing local people, making up 42 percent of all enquiries, with debt second and financial products third.
The bureau has also been regularly assisting people with consumer issues, legal concerns, relationships and housing problems.