CAB Cuts

I am very worried to hear about likely cuts in both staff and services at Woking Citizens Advice Bureau.

Woking Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) provides a range of valuable services to local people. Through a small number of employees and an army of volunteers they offer legal advice, support on housing issues, help on claiming benefits, support on debt issues, employment problems, relationship issues, consumer rights, discrimination and more.

Contrary to popular belief CAB is not funded by government. It is a charitable organisation which relies on grants and donations. Woking CAB is not receiving its anticipated level of funding in the coming year and so it is looking at both cutting services and losing paid employees.

I visited the local CAB earlier this year with parliamentary candidate Rosie Sharpley and South East region MEP Sharon Bowles. We heard from Hazel Craig-Waller about the range of services provided and the number of residents helped by the CAB.

Cuts to the CAB, especially in the current economic climate, will be hard felt. Just at a time when the service is most needed it may need to cut back on its vital services.