Citizen's Advice Bureaux join forces to launch countywide service
7:20am Tuesday 24th January 2012 in News By Lauren May
CAB offices join forces to launch Surrey service
Twelve Citizen’s Advice Bureaux (CABs), including the Epsom and Ewell Citizen’s Advice Bureau, joined forces to launch a county wide advice service last week.
Citizen’s Advice Surrey will provide service from over 37 locations across Surrey with over 900 fully trained volunteers offering free, confidential and impartial advice on issues such as debt, employment, housing and immigration.
Tom Sheriff, bureau manager for the Epsom and Ewell Citizen’s Advice Bureau said: “We are excited to have joined Citizens Advice Surrey as we feel that closer co-operation among CABs will allow us to further improve our services to the local community. We have already joined with our colleagues in Reigate and Banstead and Dorking and Leatherhead to provide together telephone advice. This means that Epsom and Ewell residents can now call for advice five days per week. However, we remain an independent CAB committed to giving free, confidential advice to those who live and work in Epsom and Ewell”.
Norma Corkish, chair of Citizens Advice Surrey added: "Whilst an affluent county, Surrey has significant pockets of deprivation with social problems as great as any nationally but which tend to be masked by the county statistics.
"In these difficult economic times, CAB services are even more likely to be needed, but many individual bureaux are themselves facing difficult times with reductions in their local authority funding.
"The launch of Citizens Advice Surrey recognises both these things and that the best way to continue to meet the needs of its communities is to look county-wide, whilst continuing to provide services to local communities."
For more information visit epsomewellcab.org.uk, or citizensadvicesurrey.org.uk
