Rory Continues the Fight to Keep Eden’s Citizens Advice Bureau Open

Rory on Friday chaired a meeting between the Eden Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) and several other local bodies to discuss ways in which the service could access sufficient funds in order to continue providing its 3 day per week generalist advice service to local residents.

Eden CAB is currently facing a funding crisis, and may be forced to reduce its services to one day a week unless a solution is found. Given that a 2011 audit rated the CAB service as being in the top 20% in England and Wales, assisting residents in every Eden Ward, it is felt that a reduction in services would be a real loss to the local community.

Rory helped steer the debate between the Citizens Advice Bureau and various local stakeholders – including Eden District Council, Cumbria County Council, Eden Housing Association and NHS commissioning trusts – in an effort to negotiate additional funding for the Eden office. The meeting produced some positive results in Eden CAB’s efforts to diversify its funding streams, with help offered by local NHS commissioning trusts, but much still needs to be done to guarantee the long-term condition of the service.

Speaking after the meeting, Rory said: “Eden’s Citizens Advice Bureau provides an invaluable service to local residents and a drop down to a once a week advice service would be a huge loss. I have received many, many notes of support from local councillors, organisations, volunteers and, of course, users of this service. This meeting was a step in the right direction, and advances have been made in securing the required funding, but much more still needs to be done.”