We provide free, confidential and independent information about almost anything. Our clients' most common problems generally relate to benefits, employment, debt, housing, consumer affairs and family relationships. We operate from our main offices in Wimborne and Ferndown. We also have outreach centres at Verwood Library, at the Verwood and Cranborne GP Surgeries for patients at those surgeries, and at Heatherlands and Turbary Church.
Our current news items are summarised below. To move through the other pages of the web-site, click on the section you require in the left hand column.
Click on opening times if you wish to make an appointment to see an adviser, or check availability at our outreach locations. However, you may find that we can answer your question over the telephone. Alternatively, you could search for the information you require in our information on line section, which includes a comprehensive Self-help Debt Kit.
To find out where our main offices are, click on How to find us. We also have a smaller scale map, or a Google map if you are travelling from outside the area.
If you would like to support the East Dorset Citizens Advice Bureau in any way, please click on Friends of EDCAB.
If you wish to complain about any of our services, please visit our complaints page.
EDCAB NEWS
Develop your skills with Citizens Advice
East Dorset Citizens Advice Bureaux are running a training programme for volunteer advisers starting in September 2009, and invite applicants to attend an information session about the work.
Sessions will be held on Friday 26 June and Tuesday 7 July at the Wimborne Office.
Please phone now for more details on Tel 01202 857100 or use our email contact form.
"Training as Volunteer Advisers gives you the satisfaction of helping others, by working with a friendly team, using and developing your life skills, and helping improve how society works", say Bureau Managers Hilary Forrest and Christine Cook. "This is your opportunity to find out more. If advising does not appeal, you may be interested to take on other roles".
Annual Public Meeting Announced
Press Release - Jobcentre Plus is moving to pay benefits fortnightly
East Dorset Citizens Advice Bureau is concerned that those people claiming benefits may not be aware of the changes which took place in April to the way their benefits are paid.
From April 2009, Jobcentre Plus paid all benefit claimants fortnightly. Lone parents moving from income support to JSA also changed from weekly to fortnightly payments. Loans are available to help people manage through the change period. Following consultation with the Social Security Advisory Committee (to which national charity Citizens Advice submitted comments), the Government has agreed to increase the value of the loan from the planned 75 per cent of a claimant's weekly personal allowance to 100 per cent. Citizens Advice's main concern now is that claimants are properly informed, so they have the opportunity to claim the loan and do not find themselves without money for a week or having to rely on a crisis loan. Citizens Advice is continuing to talk to the officials involved in implementing these changes.
CAB Manager Hilary Forrest said, "Some of the most vulnerable people are being moved to fortnightly payments. This means a payment gap. We are pleased that the Secretary of State has agreed to change the policy from 75% loans to 100% loans. Now it is important that people know about the changes in plenty of time to apply for these loans."
For more details go to the Jobcentre Plus web page, or contact your local Jobcentre Plus or EDCAB.
Forty Years On
Forty years ago the first Citizens Advice sessions in Wimborne were held in the vestry of the town Methodist Church. We have launched an appeal to help to secure another 40 years of CAB service in East Dorset.
Please visit our 40th Anniversary Page here
CARDS - Citizens Advice Rural Dorset Service
CARDS is a Dorset-wide CAB service funded by the Big Lottery's Advice Plus programme for three years, to provide home-visiting advisers and an extended phone service.
The CARDS Helpline on 08444 77 20 22 can be used from anywhere in Dorset. It is staffed:
- every Monday and Tuesday from 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm
- every Tuesday and Wednesday from 8:45 am to 10:00 am
- every Wednesday and Thursday from 4:30 pm to 7:00 pm
Even when the service is closed you can listen to recorded information on employment, debt, welfare benefits, consumer and other subjects.
Calls cost 5p per minute from land lines. Mobile charges vary.
FRIENDS OF EAST DORSET CAB
Our Next Events
Don't miss our Book Sales at the Wimborne CAB Annex
The next sales are on 13,14 June, and they will continue throughout 2009.
Visit our Friends' Activities page here for details of past and future events, and a summary of last year's financial accounts.
Online Giving to CABx
Donate online to your local CAB
Please download our tax-efficient Donation Form and send us your donation. You will receive a personal acknowledgement directly from EDCAB, and you will receive news of our future events.
Alternatively, the Charity Giving CAB web site, run by The Dove Trust, supports Citizens Advice Bureaux nationwide. You can donate to East Dorset CAB, tax efficiently and securely, using their online EDCAB web page.
EDCAB ANNUAL REVIEW, 2007-2008
Our Annual Review for 2007-2008 is available for you to download and read here, along with previous years' reports.
©2009 East Dorset Citizens Advice Bureaux
East Dorset Citizens Advice Bureaux is a Company Limited by guarantee
Registered No. 2618707 England.
Charity Registration No. 1003456
Registered Address: Hanham Road, Wimborne, Dorset. BH21 1AS
Site last updated 23 June 2009. Please send your feedback to the Webmaster