The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
A new face-to-face video link is being launched by South Holland Citizens Advice Bureau.
The free service will be offered for two hours each day, five days a week from The Curlew Centre in Sutton Bridge.
Until now access to advice for people living in that area has been managed by advisers from the Spalding bureau visiting Long Sutton one day a month – hosting a drop-in service and pre-booked appointments.
But it is felt that service users require more regular and easier access to quality assured advice, which needs to be delivered in a sustainable, frequent and cost-effective way.
Lisa Barwell, chief officer of the Citizens Advice Bureau in South Holland, said: “By employing present-day, simple-to-use technology that many of us use in our everyday lives, we will be able to provide a really enhanced advice service to communities located miles from main town centres.
“Residents in Sutton Bridge and the surrounding area will be able to get free, quality, face-to-face advice every weekday without travelling very far.”
The proposal is for volunteers at Curlew Centre Library to be trained to be CAB receptionist/information assistants who assist clients to use the equipment.
It’s hoped the live video service will launch in January.
Helen Barber, from The Curlew Centre, is looking forward to being part of the new flagship CAB service at Sutton Bridge.
She said: “It’s vital that local residents can get help and advice when they need it most. Having the friendly face of a professional adviser just around the corner will be a tremendous boost to the local community and nearby villages.”
She added: “We want to ensure that we play our part in helping the CAB to help us. So if you can spare two hours or more each week to provide voluntary help as a Curlew Centre receptionist with training provided to help CAB clients, we’d love to hear from you. Simply call The Curlew Centre on 01406 351122.”
