Building brighter futures at Banstead. YMCA Banstead Children’s Centre is a designated Sure Start Centre and neighbour of ours at The Horseshoe. The Centre offers support to families with children under five in and around Banstead. There’s a term-time schedule of activities for parents and childminders including baby massage, sing and sign sessions, messy play and cooking. They offer advice […]
Changed pattern but frustration persists. On one day this week THREE homeless people came to our Redhill bureau without an appointment. Their situations were different but they shared a level of anxiety and frustration that showed again why new policies are urgently needed. Only one was ‘street homeless’, sleeping rough or at risk of sleeping rough. The others were getting support from housing departments but had problems with their current temporary accommodation. In truth, […]
Here Now. Universal Credit has arrived in Surrey although only in a limited way. Until Summer 2018 UC can only be claimed here by individuals who meet certain criteria, known as gateway conditions. This means most claims will be restricted to jobseekers who don’t have children, a mortgage or certain benefits in payment. There are other […]
Continuing advice service. Citizens Advice Reigate & Banstead is delighted to confirm that our advice service for older people in Horley is re-launched this month. The good news comes courtesy of a Community Foundation for Surrey grant in partnership with the Gatwick Foundation. Information about the service is being sent to all our friends and contacts in charities, health and social care groups. […]
Advice and profile. At Citizens Advice Reigate & Banstead we’re keen for everyone to know who we are and that we offer free advice locally. That’s why we write regular columns for two local magazines: the Challenger and Connection. In addition to offering advice on common problems, the articles help raise our profile. This is important because as a small independent charity we rely on dedicated local volunteers and community support in […]
IT and Debt Specialist’s Big Birthday David de Cintra, our District IT Coordinator and Debt Casework Specialist, reached a milestone this week and his colleagues marked the occasion. Never known to turn down an opportunity for cake and celebration, the team congratulated David in time-honoured way. And Sarah Mason’s amazing cake was primetime standard – all edible but the candles.
Opportunity to meet. Reigate & Banstead Council housing team held a valuable Homelessness Forum at the Town Hall on Wednesday 17 May. R&BBC Housing Services Manager Richard Robinson, hosting the event, said the aim was to ensure everyone with an interest in reducing housing insecurity was up to speed on developments. Main topics for discussion were: A Year in Housing at the Council […]
Helping with over £1m unsecured debt. Currently our trained advisers are helping clients manage unsecured debts of more than £1.1m. Average personal debt per client is £10,490. The main components are credit cards, unsecured loans and benefit overpayments. Citizens Advice Reigate & Banstead saw 112 new clients facing significant problem debt in the year to March 2017. Growth in this kind of debt […]
Problems persist despite changes. Assessment for Personal Independence Payment is still causing financial and emotional distress. There have been efforts to try to make things easier. Last month the government announced improved transitional arrangements to give people more time to appeal against loss of Motability payment. Yet the number of requests for advice shows no sign of falling. In the […]