RYEDALE CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU Presentation to Ryedale District Presentation to Ryedale District Council Janet Sharp – Chair of Trustee Board David Brown – Treasurer and Trustee Sue Bywater – Chief Officer
OBJECTIVES � To inform Members of RDC about the work of Ryedale CAB � To demonstrate the benefits to RDC our service brings to the community service brings to the community � To illustrate how we envisage our future
Who We Are � Ryedale CAB has been established for over 30 years � We are part of the national Citizens Advice network which sets standards for excellence network which sets standards for excellence � We are primarily staffed by volunteers from the local community with 8 part time paid employees
The Work We Do � We provide advice free to the citizens of Ryedale District on a wide range of social issues � We provide specialist advice and advocacy and � We provide specialist advice and advocacy and follow-up appointments for � Housing � Welfare Benefits � Money Advice
Service Delivery � We offer drop-in sessions at � Harrison House, Norton – 3 sessions per week � Pickering Library – 1 session per week � We are part of the Advice Line network via a � We are part of the Advice Line network via a rota taking calls on a national basis 3 sessions per week � We offer specialist appointments
Client Numbers covering period April 2014-March 2015 Clients 1,868 Numberof Issues Numberof Issues 5,479 5,479 Client Contacts 8,234 Enquiries 2,121
Client Issue Breakdown 766 Benefits 83 Debt 102 125 Employment 1948 Housing 145 Family & Relationships 160 160 Legal Utilities 245 Consumer Financial Services 336 Immigration Other 468 1101
Client Issues for top 10 Wards 124 152 165 Malton 980 241 Norton East Norton West 188 Pickering West Pickering East Pickering East 282 Kirkbymoorside Derwent Helmsley 307 Rillington 923 Amotherby 612 The top ten Wards account for 72% of clients seen
Financial Outcomes Financial Year 2014-15 � Income Gains £2,4000,00 � Debts Written Off � Debts Written Off £259,243 £259,243 � Repayments Rescheduled £5,248
Outcomes Benefits & tax credits 1% 0% 0% Consumer goods & 2% services 13% Debt 0% Education 6% 1% 0% 0% 1% Employment 49% 0% 0% Financial services & capability Health & community care 26% Housing Immigration & 1% asylum
Gains for Clients £s 47,479.08 6,034.32 8,213.49 12,049.81 223,500.00 Rent Arrears Mortgage Arrears Council tax Debt 29,777.65 Utilities Utilities 18,807.88 Benefits Tax/NI Fines 586,444.09 NP Debt Employment 254,923.50 Housing Benefit Overpayments Council Tax Overpayments 4,629.78 1,944.00
PARTNERSHIPS � RDC – Housing options team � Stonham tenancy support � Community mental health team � Children’s centre � Children’s centre � Ryedale jobcentre plus � Ryedale foodbank � Member of Parliament
Housing Our success in this area derives from: � Streamlining emergency housing referrals � Prioritising emergencies � Pre-court preparation prior to referral to duty � Pre-court preparation prior to referral to duty desk � Priority applications by charity worker to reduce arrear levels prior to court � Post emergency client care and follow up
Other Activities Charity Worker � Funded from Core – cost £8K p/a � Accesses small sums on behalf of client for � Rent Arrears � Council Tax Arrears � Council Tax Arrears � Utilities � Small Household items
Fighting Chance Project Funded by Awards for All £10K over 10 months of project Improving life chances for 18-24 age group � CV writing � CV writing � Interview techniques � Gateway to further training
Case Studies � Alison, rural isolation, mental health problems. Single parent of teenage son, has benefit, housing and ongoing health issues. � Client, 82 years old, living in a rural isolation. � Client, 82 years old, living in a rural isolation. Challenging high and very complex fuel bills. Intervention by MP.
Bureau Income Financial Year 2014-15 Ryedale District £83000 23% Council North Yorkshire £24000 6.5% County Council County Council Grants from other £24000 6.5% sources
Funding Applications Financial Year - 2015/16 (to date) � Burden Trust - £6k – pending � Inman Charity - £20k – pending � Charles and Elsie Sykes Trust - £5k – successful � Lloyds Invest - £71k – invited to resubmit � Lloyds Invest - £71k – invited to resubmit � Big Lottery – £350k (5 years) � Henry Smith Charity – Draft Over the last 4 years we have successfully obtained £149K
Savings In order to manage our budget for the current financial year we have: � Reduced staff hours � Relet our IT maintenance contract � Relet our IT maintenance contract � Reduced Audit costs We constantly review our finances to identify further efficiency savings
Going Forward We envisage that in the future we will be able to sustain services through � Big Lottery and other sources � Ryedale CAB and RDC communicate on a � Ryedale CAB and RDC communicate on a regular basis � Initial provision of £35k to be reduced upon our success at obtaining other funding
Funding for 2015/16 Without the proposed additional funding from RDC for the current financial year we will be unable to survive beyond September of this year
QUESTIONS
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