Havent CAB to reopen after receiving slice of £15m funding
A service which helps people overcome money worries is reopening in a town after closing its doors three years ago.
Havant and District Citizens Advice Bureau has been handed a 40,000 slice of 15m government funding.
It means the free, confidential, charity will be able to help 1,500 more people across the area and open a base in Havant town centre for the first time since 2006.
There was outrage when the trustees of Havant and District CAB announced there was no money left in the pot to keep open The Lodge, in Park Road North, meaning people had to travel miles to Leigh Park and Waterlooville for vital legal and financial help.
The closure was blamed on a lack of volunteers, coupled with rising rent and energy costs.
But the latest funding pledge will bring the vital service back to the town as the credit crunch bites.
Local CAB chief executive Richard Solly said he was relieved to finally have the money for a Havant base but did not know how long it would last. He said: 'It is long overdue. We are at the stage now where we are looking for premises to move into for around August time.
'The only problem is that without more funding we probably only have enough money to stay open about 18 months.'
Mr Solly said the funding boost was well-timed, particularly as there are now 2,345 people jobless in Havant – the highest for 10 years.
'As people on low and moderate incomes are struggling to make ends meet at a time of increasing uncertainty about the security of their jobs and incomes, access to reliable, high-quality, free, independent advice has never been more vital,' he said.
Havant and District CAB help more than 4,000 people each year and that will now increase. And, nationally, the service is dealing with 450 new cases involving mortgage arrears and 475 new redundancy enquiries every working day.
As well as seeing a 125 per cent increase in redundancy enquiries between April and November 2008, daily enquiries about Job Seekers Allowance rose by 66 per cent in the same period.
CAB OPENING HOURS
- Leigh Park: Community Centre, Dunsbury Way, Monday to Wednesday 10am to 1pm
- Waterlooville: 9 St. Georges Walk, Wednesday to Friday from 10am to 1pm
- Hayling Island: United Reformed Church, Hollow Lane, Wednesday 10am to 2pm
- Warren Park: Sure Start outreach, Warren Park Community Building, Sandleford Road, Tuesday and Wednesday 10am to 3pm
- Denmead: All Saints Church Hall, Hambledon Road, Monday 10am to 2pm.
- Horndean: Tyfield House, Parish Council Offices, Blendworth Lane, Tuesday to Thursday 10am to 1pm.
- Gosport: Martin Snape House, 96 Pavilion Way. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 9.30am to 2.30pm.
- On Wednesdays the main office is closed but instead operate a drop-in or appointment service at Outreach Centre, intended for residents of Rowner, at Rowner Access Point, Nimrod Community Centre, Nimrod Drive, Rowner, from 10am to 12.30pm.
- Fareham: 2nd Floor, County Library Building, Osborn Road. Monday 10am to 4pm, Wednesday 10am to 4pm, Thursday 10am to 4pm and reopen at 5pm to 6.30pm.
- Portsmouth: 1-3A London Road, North End: 9am to 5pm, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. 9am to 8pm, Thursday. 9am to midday, Saturday (first Saturday of every month).
- Cosham: Northern Road, Cosham. 10am to 3.30pm, Monday.
For more information log on to: citizensadvice.org.uk
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