Citizens Advice set for the next phase
Town’s branch set to open new office next year
The Slough branch of Citizen’s Advice is ready to move onto the next phase in the new year – including setting up an office – after a successful launch.
Citizens Advice East Berkshire (CAEB) offers advice on finances, payments, rights and ‘everyday law’ such as debt, benefits and navigating the private rentals, among other things.
The charity has offices in Maidenhead and Bracknell and is now looking to set up in Slough as well.
There used to be a Citizens Advice branch in Church Street, which closed in 2016 after more than a decade working in Slough.
That building was taken over by Shelter homelessness charity, which moved in to offer specialist housing advice – but Shelter, too, have since vacated.
As such, Slough is ‘a bit of an advice desert’, said Pippa Banham, new CEO of CAEB.
To address this, Slough’s Citizens Advice has been building up via a phased launch, starting with advice sessions at Slough foodbank and an online advice service.
Since October, the charity has been working in partnership with Slough Foodbank and poverty-fighting charity The Trussell Trust, which is providing the funds.
An assessor is posted at Slough Foodbank – working as part of the Foodbank team – who can offer advice to people who come in, and refer them on to an advisor, where needed.
“It’s a brilliant way of reaching people in crisis and helping the most vulnerable people,” said Pippa.
It also began a pilot face-toface service out of Chalvey Community Hub on Ladbrooke Road.
The ‘early indications are good’, said Pippa.
Since it began, it has supported 47 clients and handled 326 issues, helping people save or recover about £9,400 in total.
“Bearing in mind, that’s just from two people working part time,” Pippa said.
“I think it’s a really encouraging start.”
The charity thinks these figures are in fact underestimates and expects to see a fuller picture in January.
As a result of its pilot, CAEB was awarded a contract with Slough Borough Council to continue and scale up its work.
The next phase for CAEB is getting into physical offices next year.
Then CAEB can offer face-toface
meetings there – at first by appointment only, with a view to start offering drop-ins at some point in the future.
Now currently building the Slough arm of CAEB and its advice service, the charity is looking for volunteers. Pippa said the demand is ‘very high’ in Slough. Volunteers can work in CAEB offices or ‘completely
remotely’ if they wish.
“We try to be as inclusive as possible because we really value the diversity it brings,” said Pippa.
To contact CAEB for use of its services, call on the freephone number 0808 1697766 or the local line number 01753 981040. Email advice.sl @caeb.org.uk