Here at CARBS Volunteer Training Days are a tradition. There’s always a serious purpose, an enjoyable atmosphere and genuine French croissants!
All credit then to our staff for keeping the flame alive.
Admittedly Zoom isn’t Reigate Baptist Church on a sunny morning. Learning together with friends remains a happy memory.
But 50 colleagues logged in. The tech worked. ‘Chat’ enabled useful questions and participation. There was a later optional Q&A for anyone with extra queries.
Training is particularly important when advisers are working from home.
However, we are fortunate in the special expertise of our senior team. Below is a taste of the excellent detailed sessions they led on strategy and current (Covid-19) issues.
1. Strategy. Andrea Dunhill, Chief Executive
Responding to the Covid lockdown has meant rethinking how we do just about everything. We shut our offices, asked volunteers to work from home and provided the resources to make this massive change possible. Now is the time to build on positive progress. Read Andrea’s Blog CARBS Strategy 2020-21.
2. Debt. Mandy Impey, Advice Services Manager
Demand for debt advice already exceeds supply. There is every chance this will get worse when emergency arrangements finish:
> Shielding from actions by creditors (mortgage holidays, suspension of bailiff action, payment breaks for credit cards and car finance)
> Court moratorium on recovery (eviction) cases
> 1-year £100 per month increase in UC and tax credits.
The earlier we can help the better the outcome will be.
3. Universal Credit Help to Claim. Juliet Barclay, Coordinator
Since 16 March almost 2 million people have applied for UC, 250,000 for new-style Job Seekers Allowance, 20,000 for Employment and Support Allowance. This is 6 times more than normal!
Juliet reported nearly 1000 new clients in the past year. The first weeks saw a huge increase in phone and web chat enquiries. This has moderated, but the risk of redundancy remains high and we expect new surges in demand. Also, many hundreds of local self-employed people may struggle to keep their businesses alive.
4. Domestic Violence and Abuse. Helen Miller, Training Manager
We offer an important neutral source of advice that can be very helpful to some clients. We’re part of a comprehensive service in Reigate and Banstead, alongside RBBC and specialist organisations.
Training. Citizens Advice is building an exciting new platform for volunteers. Every colleague will have their own account. Nothing is more important to us than keeping up-to–date and being able to specialise when new needs arise.
CARBS Training Commitment To ensure all volunteer advisers enhance theJuliet Barclay, Coordinatorir skills and knowledge; know how to give advice effectively; and feel confident to help clients solve problems and lead happier lives.