Motherwell & Wishaw Citizens Advice Bureau

Background information A voluntary organisation delivering effective, high quality generalist advice service: -For the Community -In the Community -By the Community

Aims to ensure that individuals do not suffer through lack of knowledge of their rights and responsibilities, or of the services available to them, or through an inability to express their need effectively and equally to exercise a responsible influence on the development of social policies and services, both locally and nationally.

Principles Free Independent Confidential Voluntary Impartial Accessible Effective Dedicated to helping local people to find solutions to their problems

Key Stats Client Financial Gain = £3,223, Debt Value = £3,159, Number of Issues = 27314

Value added projects Advice for Tenants and Residents Armed Services Advice Project Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland Wishaw General Hospital Mental Health Clinic Welfare Benefits Tribunal Representation Specialist Debt Advice Money Advice Service Kinship Care PASS Energy Advice Clinics

AFTAR The projects works with 5 Housing Association and givES advice to vulnerable tenants (VIA home visits, face to face appointments, phone, ) Motherwell & Wishaw Housing Association Forgewood Housing Association Garrion Housing Association, Abronhill Housing Association Lanarkshire Housing Association If you would like to make an appointment, contact Robert or Ross on /

ASAP The Armed Services Advice Project (ASAP) provides dedicated information, advice and support to members of the Armed Forces Community in Lanarkshire. If you wish to make an appointment, please phone: or line.org.uk line.org.uk

CHSS Welfare Benefits Adviser, Ann Young provides a dedicated service for clients suffering from chest, heart or stroke related illness. Its main aim is to ensure clients and their families receive their rightful entitlement to welfare benefits. The referrals are mainly made by CHSS Team, Health Care professionals Lanarkshire wide To find out more, please call: and speak to Ann or Robert

Mental Health Project Set up in the psychiatric wards at Wishaw General Hospital. The project runs a weekly advice clinic, which allows us to provide inpatients with access to mainstream advice and information whilst in hospital.

Welfare Benefits Tribunal Representation The North Lanarkshire CABx Tribunal Representation Unit is funded by the Scottish Legal Aid Board and delivered in partnership with Airdrie Citizens Advice Bureau. It provides tribunal representation across the whole of North Lanarkshire for anyone wishing to appeal a benefit decision.

Specialist Debt Advice We give the appropriate level of advice, guidance and support to deal with their debt and with the other issues that often come with it. We cover a wide range of debt resolution strategies

Money Advice Service Face to Face Free, Impartial Money Advice empowering clients to take control of finances & make financial decisions MAKE MOST OF YOUR MONEY TAKE THE STEPS TO PLAN FOR THE FUTURE PREVENTATIVE DIMENSION Phone Motherwell & Wishaw CAB, quoting Money Advice Service More info on:

Energy Advice Project making people aware of the savings that can be made by switching fuel providers or negotiating with existing providers providing information about help available from energy suppliers and government for people struggling to pay their gas and electricity bills informing consumers about how they might save money by using less energy and sources of advice and help around energy efficiency. To make an appointment phone: or

PASS – NHS complaints provide you with information, advice and support if you want to give feedback or comments, or raise concerns or complaints, about healthcare provided by NHS Scotland provide practical assistance in the preparation of letters, making phone calls and supporting you in preparing for and attending meetings assist you to access medical records To make an appointment, visit or call your local bureau.

Kinship Care Kinship Carers - people caring for children because their natural parents are unable to do so Advisers at every Scottish CAB can provide detailed advice on kinship care and can access additional specialist advice for complex cases.

Voluntary Opportunities Governance Advice Provision Administration Tutor Youth Work Money Advice Social Policy Representation – Tribunals – UAT/Employment Information & Communication Technology Health & Safety

Training Equipping volunteers with transferrable skills through the provision of structured, valued, comprehensive training: A)Adviser Training Programme B)Administration Training Programme C)Social Policy Training D)Mentoring, Tutoring & Session Supervisor Training E)Governance Training F)Specialist Training: Employment, Debt, Welfare Rights, Immigration G)Access to Vocational Qualifications: SVQ in Advice & Guidance & Business Administration

Case Studies Jennifer, LLB Graduate, seeking employment, commenced working in the bureau as a volunteer and successfully moved to paid employment 1 Volunteer Generalist Adviser Social Policy Worker 2 Volunteer On The Job Trainer Volunteer Tutor 3 Paid Volunteer Developer Social Policy Coordinator

Case Studies Laura, Call Centre Part Time worker, looking for a change of employment 1 Volunteer Generalist Adviser Volunteer On The Job Trainer 2 Paid Youth Worker Paid Volunteer Coordinator 3 Office Manager

Case Studies David, unemployed, looking to gain some experience in an admin capacity 1 Volunteer Admin Assistant Volunteer Mentor 2 Volunteer Tutor Volunteer Admin Cooridnator 3 Paid Admin Assistant

Case Studies Robert, was actively seeking employment, referred by Routes to Work, went through Adviser Training Programme and Money Advice Service Training and secured employment as a Money Adviser 1 Volunteer Generalist Adviser 2 Money Adviser (MAS)

Open Day – 2 nd September

Find out more Phone Kinga Kosakowska on and nline.org.uk Visit our Website:

Delivered by: Kinga Kosakowska