Blow after long queues outside centre
Citizens Advice office is closed in cash squeeze
By Tom Foot
Camden's Citizens Advice service is to shut down its service in Kentish Town and stop providing walk-in sessions. Chief executive Margie Butler told the New Journal yesterday (Wednesday) the CAB will leave the building it has shared with Camden Community Law Centre in Prince of Wales Road on September 9. It will continue to operate out of its second base in Robert Street at the Regent's Park estate, but there will be no more walk-in sessions.
Clients needing support on matters ranging from benefits to immigration will be able to book face-to-face appointments with advisers. But there is a push towards more advice being given over the phone while there will be more "outreach" projects in foodbanks, health centres and libraries, said Ms Butler.
"We've been working on this for some time," she said. "We are not funded by central government and we rely on funds from the council, charitable trusts and foundations.
"We have to look at the resources and how best to use them. We know we are going to have to change to continue to deliver our service. We can't just open our doors for everybody."
With devastating cuts to legal aid and council budges over the past 10 years, large numbers of people queue daily outside the CAB's offices to speak to advisers or one of more than 100 volunteers. Clients in an "emergency" will be able to drop in for help, Ms Butler said.
Funding to provide advice in GP surgeries has recently been taken away by Camden's Clinical Commissioning Group.
Companies House documents show that in the past few weeks four members of the charitable trust running the CAB have quit. Ms Butler said this was not connected to the decision to close the Kentish Town operation, adding: "It can be a challenge to find people with skills, and have time to undertake the work as a trustee."
Cllr Jonathan Simpson, cabinet member for promoting culture and community services, said: "The have explained to us that they are continuing face-to-face support on an appointment basis for residents who have complex problems that cannot be dealt with by phone. We will continue to monitor the quality and outcomes achieved for our residents."
He added that £7 million was being invested over the next seven years to "support independent organisations to provide a range of advice services for residents needing support."
(The print article that has yet to appear at Camden New Journal website adds:
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