ABOUT THE BUREAU.....

Gloucester and District Citizen’s Advice Bureau was founded in 1939, making it one of the oldest CABx in the country. The Bureau shares a council-owned building in Eastgate Street with other voluntary sector groups, but offers sessions at other venues within the Gloucester district.

We receive core-funding under a three-year service level agreement from Gloucester City Council, together with further grant for the Money Advice Service, also underwritten by an SLA. We also provide a generalist and Money Advice Service to residents of Brockworth – funded by Tewkesbury Borough Council. We have specialists working in the areas of Mental Health, Magistrates’ Court and Probation Service, with the Sure Start initiative and with the RAF at Innsworth.

We are in partnership with Gloucestershire Library Service, and use several of their premises for the delivery of generalist and specialist advice.

We hold the Quality Mark in General Help with Casework; the Specialist Quality Mark in Welfare Benefits and Debt, having caseworkers in these areas: hold the Immigration Services Commissioners’ certificate for advice; are members of the Consumer Support Network for Gloucestershire and will pilot the Department of Health scheme for NHS patient advice.

The Bureau is fully committed to the development and use of IT and is fully networked to Category 5e standard. Many processes within the Bureau are computer-based, including peripatetic advisers, debt management, accounting and communications.

The Bureau is fully committed to the NACAB Equal Opportunities policy and positively encourages applications from under-represented groups to work with us.

As a result, both paid and volunteer personnel reflect the diverse population in and around Gloucester, although we are still seeking stronger take-up of services and opportunities from African and Afro-Caribbean cultural groups. The Bureau has a reputation for providing first-class basic and ongoing training and invests heavily in this area. We are particularly proud of our record of volunteers trained and working in the bureau moving on to paid employment. The Bureau underwrites the full cost of childcare and travel for volunteers wishing to train with us.

The successful applicant will be joining a friendly, motivated and professional team enjoying a high level of support and encouragement. The Bureau has a good number of volunteers and a solid staff team contributing to maintaining and improving advice standards. The advising and support teams benefit from a highly skilled and supportive Trustee Board who take an active interest in the affairs and direction of the Bureau.

Recent audits :     NACAB Membership Audit - June 2001 – Audit Pass

                           LSC Management Audit - March 2004 – Audit Pass

Statistics : Volunteers 45

Salaried 16