The Adviser of the year award celebrates the adviser who best embodies our aims and principles; the adviser who puts clients at ease, is respectful and non judgemental, and who sets out practical options in a clear, understandable way.

Winners will be announced from a pre-published shortlist on the evening of 19^th January 2010 during a gala fundraising dinner at the Dorchester.

The new awards are designed to show our appreciation for the contribution that others have made to our cause by upholding fair treatment for all in their own distinct way between September 2008 and August 2009.

For more details, please see full coverage at: Citizens Advice awards.

To nominate an adviser, go to: Adviser of the year.

Please note the deadline for nominations is 7 November 2009.

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In celebration of the 70th Anniversary of the Citizens Advice Bureaux, two volunteers, John Cann and Peter Ngere, are going to throw themselves out of an aeroplane, 14,000 ft above Salisbury on the 4th September 2009. This jump has been organised by Citizens Advice, and will mark the launch of a year of celebrations.

All of the donations, minus the cost of the jump (£263), will go to Merton & Lambeth Citizens Advice Bureaux who have been serving the communities of Merton and Lambeth for 70 years.

To sponsor them, and support the bureau, please go to: www.bmycharity.com/V2/johncann.

UPDATE: due to adverse weather, this has been postponed to Friday 2^nd October.

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Developing a strategy for services for people with physical or sensory impairment.

Lambeth Physical and Sensory Impairments Partnership Action Board invites you to a public consultation event on Lambeth’s draft Strategy.

Monday 6 July 2009
11.00am to 3.00pm
Lambeth Town Hall (Assembly Hall)

Come along and tell us what you think about local facilities and services, and how these can develop in the future:

• Leisure, cultural and community facilities,
• Transport options,
• Housing and adaptations,
• Help at home,
• Looking after your health,
• Personal safety in and around your local area.

Refreshments and lunch will be available.

Please call Freephone 0800 013 1497 or email acs-consultation@lambeth.gov.uk in advance if you have any communication, transport or dietary requirements. Otherwise, no need to book – just come along on the day.

For full details, please visit: disabilitylambeth.org.uk.

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Press Release

Do you want to get MoneyActive? Merton and Lambeth CABx is seeking new volunteers to pass on money savvy skills.

This Volunteers Week Merton and Lambeth Citizens Advice Bureaux is calling for volunteers to take part in a new service, offering training on financial education matters in and around the Merton and Lambeth area.

For full details, please read the press release above.

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On 18th May 2009 walkers from Merton & Lambeth CABx took part in the Fifth London Legal Support Trust Sponsored Walk.

Starting at the Royal Courts of Justice and ending at the Law Society. This 10km stroll around London’s legal landmarks has become an annual fixture London legal calendar.

Over 4,000 walkers raised a total of over £380,000 on the night, with more funds expected in the weeks after.

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A Credit Union is a savings and loans co-operative that encourages people to save rather than borrow, but also provides low cost loans to its members at times of need. The fundamental ethos of a credit union’s work is to assist people to escape from the cycle of debt. As a co-operative, credit unions have no outside shareholders so any surplus is returned to members of the credit union as a dividend on savings and a rebate on loan interest paid. This helps keep money in the local area, helping to regenerate the local community.

Merton & Lambeth Citizens Advice Bureaux is currently part of a steering group working with other local stakeholders, including the local authority, to extend credit union services from Croydon to include Merton and Sutton. To convince the regulator; the Financial Services Authority (FSA), that there is a demand for the service we need local people to show support for a credit union in the local area. Therefore, we are asking as many people as possible to pledge their support.

Individuals you can help us to gain these pledges of support by pledging yourself and encouraging friends, family and colleagues to pledge their support as well. The proposed credit union will be open to those who work as well as live in Merton. Pledges can be made online on a simple web-form by going to: www.merton.gov.uk/creditunion

On Sunday 6th July 2008, John Cann and Owen Durant, from Morden Citizens Advice Bureau, took part in a 60 mile charity cycle ride from London to Oxford.

After a few hiccups en-route, the intrepid duo reached the finish line and have, so far, raised over £800.00.

The money collected will be put towards an information kiosk for the Morden bureau. The kiosk provides a state of the art solution to advice delivery, enabling clients to access information on line, even outside of normal opening hours.

It is hoped that eventually the kiosks will be rolled out to all sites within the boroughs of Merton and Lambeth.

Thanks to all who have all ready donated.

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On 19th May 2008 walkers from Merton & Lambeth CABx are taking part in the Fourth London Legal Support Trust Sponsored Walk.

Starting at the Royal Courts of Justice and ending at the Law Society. This 10km stroll around London’s legal landmarks has become an annual fixture in the calendars of participants from many of London’s legal firms, as well as high court judges and voluntary sector workers.

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Fosuah Poku, Chief Executive of Merton & Lambeth CABx, is urging people to start the New Year with good resolutions to manage their money, saying:

"Start the New Year with a debt detox."

Last year Citizens Advice dealt with over 1.7 million new debt problems and people are paying a high price for being ill-informed and unconfident when it comes to crucial financial decisions. That debt hangover from Christmas could turn into a nightmare if people ignore it. Fosuah Poku says:

"All too often we see people when they've already reached crisis point or can no longer cope with their problems. Yet by carrying out a regular financial overhaul and taking some preventative measures many problems could be averted before they become crises. Traditionally people make New Year’s resolutions to change bad habits and we're just urging people to do the same with their finances."

For more details, go to our Campaigns page.

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Merton & Lambeth CABx, in partnership with Sutton Borough CAB, launched a joint v project. This is aimed at encouraging young volunteers, aged between 16-25, to volunteer with their local CAB.

What is the v project at Citizens Advice?

v is an independent charity which was launched in May 2006 to champion youth volunteering in England. Its aim is to inspire 1 million young people aged 16–25 to volunteer.

Why Volunteer with us?

Volunteering for your local CAB gives you the chance to try out new opportunities and develop skills which will help you with college and university courses and in gaining employment. Your volunteering will look very positive on a CV and many of our young volunteers have gone on to get good paid work.

For more details, go to our Young Volunteers page.

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Merton & Lambeth CABx Offers Life Changing Experiences.

Merton & Lambeth Citizens Advice Bureaux is calling for new volunteers who want to find out how Advice Changes Lives. This is the theme for Advice Week 2007 and as part of a week-long national campaign when we are encouraging people to find out how their own lives can be changed as well as changing other peoples' lives.

Merton & Lambeth CABx is very active providing vital advice and information in the London borough of Merton and Lambeth. Last year, advice was given on over 22,000 issues.

For more details, go to our Advice Week page.

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On 14th May 2007 a team of 9 walkers from Merton & Lambeth CABx and The South London Refugee Association took part in the Third London Legal Support Trust Sponsored Walk.

Starting at the Royal Courts of Justice and ending at the Law Society. This 10km stroll around London’s legal landmarks has become an annual fixture in the calendars of participants from many of London’s legal firms, as well as high court judges and voluntary sector workers, and this year a record breaking £175,000 was raised.

To date, our team has raised close to £1,000. Well done to everyone who took part and thank you for your generous donations

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Maryan Ahmed, a Lambeth volunteer who helps the Somali community sort out their practical problems, has won the 2006 Citizens Advice volunteer of the year.

Maryan has been volunteering at the Lambeth bureau for three years. Her work running an advice project for one of the countries largest Somali communities, has been nationally recognised. Maryan single-handedly set up the Somali advice project, which has now dealt with almost 4,000 cases. Advising at least 25 clients each week on benefits, housing, immigration, debt, family, domestic violence, and education matters.

Merton & Lambeth Chief Executive Fosuah Poku said:

"Maryan’s impact on the bureau cannot be exaggerated. In a borough containing one of the largest Somali populations in the UK, many of whom are not English speakers, Maryan’s project is a vital, dependable lifeline to thousands. Without her work many people would suffer through not knowing their rights and not being able to express their needs clearly. She represents the very best of the CAB"

The award was presented by HRH The Princess Royal, parton of Citizens Advice, and Colin Soulsby from the Royal Bank of Scotland, at the annual conference in York.

Citizens Advice Chief Executive David Harker said:

“All our volunteers are amazing individuals who give up their time to make a contribution to the local community. “But those who have picked up these awards have shown an extra special commitment. The Volunteer of the Year Awards gives the whole Citizens Advice service a chance to celebrate their success.”

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Volunteers are at the heart of the Citizens Advice service and, to celebrate Volunteers’ Week 2006 (1st-7th June), Merton & Lambeth CABx are calling for more local people from diverse backgrounds to sign up and volunteer at their local bureaux; based at Morden, Mitcham and Streatham Hill.

Over 28 million people1 are involved in volunteering in the UK every year and Volunteers’ Week is an opportunity for organisations to publicly recognise the work of their volunteers. It also aims to raise the awareness of the benefits of giving time, inspiring a new generation of volunteers. Volunteers’ Week is co-ordinated in England by Volunteering England.

This year’s theme is diversity; there are almost as many different types of people volunteering, as there are opportunities to volunteer. Diversity means not herding people into quotas, but valuing difference. We are going beyond the stereotypical volunteer to recognise that older people, disabled people and young people are just as likely to be found helping in the local community.

The Citizens Advice service is a network of independent charities that helps people resolve their money, legal and other problems by providing information and advice and by influencing policymakers. The national network of Citizens Advice Bureaux relies on over 21,000 volunteers who fulfil a range of roles. Some are trained advisers, some fulfil vital administrative roles, like reception work, IT support or PR and fundraising activities. Others serve on bureau trustee boards or do social policy campaigning work.

Merton & Lambeth CABx Chief Executive Ms Fosuah Poku said:

“Citizens Advice Bureaux volunteers perform a vital role at the heart of their communities, helping people at times when they most need support and advice

“Many volunteer because they feel very strongly that they want to contribute and put something back into their communities. We want them all to know how much we value them - they are the backbone of the communities they serve. We have a huge amount to thank them for

“We are now calling for more volunteers from a range of diverse backgrounds with different skills and abilities to volunteer at Lambeth CABx. If the Citizens Advice service is to meet the diverse needs of the local communities we need volunteers who reflect the people who live and work in our community. Our volunteers not only have a crucial role to play in the service we provide for the community today but are also crucial to how we develop the service we provide for tomorrow. Anyone interested in volunteering should contact the bureau for an application pack”

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Volunteers and staff from Merton & Lambeth Citizens Advice Bureau took part in a Mass Lobby at Parliament last week to bring to the attention of their MP the growing crisis in civil legal aid.

Volunteers and staff from Merton & Lambeth Citizens Advice Bureaux took part in a Mass Lobby at Parliament last week to bring to the attention of their MP the growing crisis in civil legal aid. They were taking part in a mass lobby of Parliament organised by the Access to Justice Alliance, which includes Citizens Advice, Shelter, Justice, Law Centres Association, Legal Aid Practitioners Group and many others.

Participants travelled along with staff and volunteers from other Citizens Advice Bureau to the Houses of Parliament. The majority of participants were able to meet with their MPs and raise their concerns about lack of access to legally aided services.

CAB Chief Executive Ms Fosuah Poku commented,

“We were encouraged by the response from our local MPs. Access to legal aid is such an important issue for so many of our clients and we are concerned that people may find that there is no access to legal aid at all in their local community.”

Bureaux prepared briefings for their MP based on the experiences of their clients. Many bureaux were asked for further meetings and information on how constituents were being affected. The day culminated in a public meeting in Portcullis House with speakers Vera Baird MP, the Minister for Legal Aid, Simon Hughes MP, Oliver Heald MP and Steve Hynes from the Law Centres Federation. The Minister had the opportunity to hear the concerns of a wide range of practitioners about the decreasing number of firms taking up legal aid contracts.

The Access to Justice Alliance have highlighted that legal aid spending on debt, housing, family and employment problems has declined by 22 per cent, that bureaucracy has caused a mass exodus of lawyers and advisers from providing legal aid, and that the most vulnerable and most socially excluded people are unable to access their rights as result. The cost to the economy of unresolved personal legal problems is as much as £13 million, and research has demonstrated that a third the population have unresolved legal problems at any one time.

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John Cann and Steve Starling are joint winners of the Citizens Advice National Volunteer of the Year Award 2005 in the team work category.

In her letter of congratulations, Hilary Watkins Chair of Citizens Advice said ‘This is a truly outstanding achievement as there was a field of exceptional candidates.’

John and Steve have volunteered with MCAB for more than 1 year. Working as part of the ICT team across 3 sites in Merton and Lambeth they update our website, maintain and update our internal intranet, provide technical assistance with computer maintenance as well as support and training to over 100 users enabling them to develop and use ICT skills within the service.

John and Steve travelled to the Citizens Advice annual conference in September where they received their winner’s certificate during the opening plenary session.

In addition Merton & Lambeth CABx received £500 which will be used to celebrate and promote the achievements and contribution of all our volunteers.

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