Wilmslow Town Council has provided a £29,000 to enable the Citizens Advice Bureau North (CAB) to continue providing services in Wilmslow.
The Citizens Advice Bureau returned to Wilmslow in September 2012, after the Town Council agreed to provide funding for them to set up a new operation in the town.
Up until 14 years ago the Citizens Advice Bureau had an office in Wilmslow but it was forced to close when the building fell into disrepair and they had insufficient funds to rectify the problems. After which the service, which offers free, confidential, impartial, independent advice and information on a wide range of subjects, was located in Macclesfield.
Following the successful launch of a drop-in session in 2012, CAB now runs sessions three days a week in the town. These include a 3-hour drop-in service on Monday mornings at the United Reformed Church and appointment sessions on Tuesday mornings at St Bartholomew's Church and Thursday mornings at Wilmslow Parish Hall. The Tuesday service has been linking in with the Food Friend sessions at St Bartholomew's Church so people suffering from economic hardship can gain advice and support whilst accessing the food bank.
Speaking at the Town Council meeting on Monday, 21st July, Jacquie Grinham, Chief Officer at CAB explained "We are looking at having supported 260 to 270 individuals in the past 12 months and that number has grown year on year. We're very pleased that we are able to help people in Wilmslow from Wilmslow and help them in Wilmslow because we were never happy with people having to travel all the way to Macclesfield.
"We really do feel there is a need and people are getting a really valuable service."
Cllr Christopher Dodson commented "I very strongly commend this to the Council since the need for the services of the Citizen's Advice Bureau are growing in the view of the changes the government is making to the benefits system and I consider this to be one of the Wilmslow Town Council to date.
"I put it on a par with the planters, the planters everybody sees this is something not everybody sees, and many people have this preconception that there are no areas of deprivation in Wilmslow but we know this not to be the case and there is a big need for this service."
Wilmslow Town Council voted unanimously to support the application for £29,000 which was a repeat of the grant they provided to CAB in the last financial year.
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