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CAB passionately believes in value of volunteers
• CAMDEN CAB is moving all its open-door bureaux to advice delivery by volunteers.
However, the “plan” for that move as outlined by some of our volunteer advisors (CAB Cuts, Letters, October 29) is not one that the trustees are aware of, have ever promoted or discussed in any of their meetings with staff or volunteers.
Camden CAB passionately believes in the value of volunteering. That is not just because it provides excellent value for money, giving approximately £4 of advice delivery for every £1 of funding. It is also because it allows the CAB to connect better with the community it serves by encouraging participation from members of Camden’s disparate groups. It provides training and spreads job opportunities. Experience suggests properly trained volunteers provide good quality advice.
It is no wonder that Camden Council’s leadership supports the greater use of volunteers. Nor is it surprising that the move to greater use of volunteers is supported by Citizen’s Advice, the national body, and the vast majority of our staff and volunteers.
To implement the move we are restructuring so we can use the experience of our paid staff to support volunteers. We have no idea where the figure of “50 per cent cuts in both management and paid staff” comes from.
Moreover, these changes are being made precisely in order to support a significant increase in the number of volunteer advisers so that Camden CAB can ultimately open its doors for longer hours, across more days.
Change is often unsettling but these changes are the result of careful consultation, consideration and planning over many months. The trustees believe they will produce a better service for Camden.
Benet Brandreth
Chair of Trustees
Camden CAB
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