Most of the work we do is about:

• Welfare Benefits

• Debt / money

• Consumer

• Housing & homelessness

• Relationship and family problems

• Employment

There are many other issues such as tax, immigration and law that we also advise on.

Detailed information about these and other topics may be found on our national website at

www.adviceguide.org.uk

During our opening hours, advice is given by telephone, and face to face by fully trained advisers.   The limited amount of space and numbers of staff available will affect how quickly you can get access to our services.

Our aim is to give you the advice and support you need to help you manage.   In some cases this may involve negotiating and writing letters on your behalf.   We can sometimes represent at court or tribunal,   In all cases the help we give will depend on:-

• your own ability to manage

• the complexity or seriousness of the case

• bureau resources / staff availability

CAB advisers come from all sorts of backgrounds, and many of them are volunteers.   All of them undergo thorough training, and all their work has to meet nationally set standards.   Most volunteers are in the Bureaux for only one or two days per week, so it is not always possible to see the same adviser.   All cases are recorded, (and kept confidentially within the bureau) so any adviser can follow up a case from an earlier date.

The CAB service is completely confidential and independent and is run by a voluntary Trustee Board, elected every year.   They administer the funding to pay the core staff for the day to day running of the Bureaux.   Most funding comes from Winchester City Council, with extra money for specialist projects from the Mid-Hants Primary Care Trust and local Parish Councils.  Trustee Board members come from a range of organisations and meet regularly to ensure the bureau is running properly.   Members of the Trustee Board do not have any access to confidential case records.

If we can't help you, we can usually refer you on to someone who can!   In some cases, where it is a law or policy that is causing the difficulty, we can take up the issue and work to change things.   We do this locally as well as through our national Citizens Advice network.   Sometimes this work can be very successful in improving things for everyone.  See our work on Social Policy.

All complaints are taken seriously and we are always keen to know of any problems so that we can improve our service.   In the first instance, complaints should be addressed to the Bureau Manager.   We also have a leaflet explaining our complaints procedure in full which may be sent to you on request. If you would like to make any suggestions about how we can improve our service, write or e-mail to the Bureau Manager or alternatively use the suggestion boxes in our waiting room.