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MP Emily Thornberry |
MPs: Advice hotline can’t cope with demand for help in slump
Pressure for ‘a proper, face-to-face service’ as people struggle with debt
ISLINGTON’S two Labour MPs – struggling to deal with an avalanche of calls for help in the recession – have branded as “inadequate” a new Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) hotline.
The phone line – replacing a face-to-face service that shut down last year – was launched this week with cash backing from Islington Council.
But MPs Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North) and Emily Thornberry (Islington South and Finsbury) said it could not deal with the huge increase in people seeking help since the downturn in the economy.
Mr Corbyn, whose surgery is based in the former CAB offices in Durham Road, Finsbury Park, said: “We’re still getting people referred to the old CAB office who end up coming to me for help. We don’t mind obviously, but we do desperately need a proper, fully staffed, face-to-face CAB service.”
Mr Corbyn added that provision of advice in Islington was a “very sad” story. He said: “We once had three CAB offices along with a Law Centre and People’s Rights Centre. Today, we just have the two centres. Both are overwhelmed by demand.”
Ms Thornberry, who has no advice centres in her constituency, said she was “snowed under” with people struggling with mortgage arrears, debt and immigration problems.
Each month, 1,000 people contact her surgery. “I’m happy to help my constituents but there are limits on my resources,” Ms Thornberry said. “I get a lot of people contacting me about debt and unemployment.
“They do open small advice sessions locally but they appear and then disappear.”
The Law Centre and the People’s Rights Centre are in the north of the borough. The Law Centre reports a three-week wait before it can see a client face to face.
The new CAB service will also set up face-to- face appointments when needed. A team of trained advisers will be on hand to answer inquiries, including those from people with money, debt, property, work or legal concerns.
As well as the telephone service, a website will offer information, fact sheets on debt and employment and links to other websites and agencies.
The new service is being funded through an annual grant of £150,000 from the council, with some additional money from the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.
CAB manager James Banks said: “We are extremely pleased to have secured funding from Islington Council to provide this much-needed service. Anyone who lives or works in the area and is concerned about a specific issue can call the service confidentially and get impartial information and advice.
“Our team of trained volunteer advisers can call them back if necessary and we will be working closely with other community groups and agencies to provide a comprehensive service that is accessible by everyone regardless of any barriers such as language.”
Lib Dem communities chief Councillor Lucy Watt said: “With our grant, Citizens Advice Islington will be dealing with 15,000 phone inquiries and making 500 face-to-face appointments with residents this year.
“It’s one of the many ways Islington Council is working with local employers, the voluntary and charity sectors to help recession-hit residents in a real and practical way.
“For many, Citizens Advice is their preferred place to get good advice on everything from property and debt problems to redundancy and employer disputes. In the current climate many residents will find their service indispensable.”
If you need advice, call 0844 856 3537 between 10am and 5pm, Monday to Friday. The website address is www.cabislington.org.uk |
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