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k.com                                                                    The Link Magazine • March 2001      5
               New advice service opens to serve North Swindon

                                         Volunteers needed to extend it
    Residents of Haydon Wick, Woodhall Park, Abbey Meads and Blunsdon can now benefit from an advice point which was recently opened
    by the Citizens Advice Bureau at the Pinehurst People's Centre in Olive Grove.
      The bureau gives free, confiden-     -                A leaflet giving full details of  cate. CAB training is highly re-
    tial and impartial advice and as-              opening times and services is avail-  garded by employers."
    sistance in sorting out personal    V                  able.                        Claire stressed that the training
    problems. Issues covered include      cns  : +          The bureau has paid and volun-  is given in a friendly and support-
    debt, welfare benefits, housing,  ^,^  VOWM7FtR        leer staff. Volunteers are desper- ive environment.
    employment, consumer affairs,          -               ately needed to act as receptionists  If enough volunteers can be
    taxes, health, immigration and      a                  and advice workers.        trained, she hopes to start advice
    nationality, education, legal pro-   -                   "We are looking for caring, con-  sessions in other venues across
    cedures and family and personal                        tidential people, concerned to fight North Swindon.
    matters.                             OPEN              for people's rights," said Claire.  To find out more, call the Citi-
      Outreach worker Claire Morgan,  No      "Full training is provided which        zens Advice Bureau's 24 hour re-
    who runs the advice point, said,  i,  vile to          leads to a recognised NVQ certifi- cruitment hotline: 491166
                                              `
    "there is clear evidence of a need
    for the service. Being based in
    Pinehurst means we are much
    more accessible to people who live         -
    across North Swindon."
      An initial interview with a
    trained advisor is available simply
    by dropping in on Monday after-    problem solving
    noons and Tuesday mornings. The       adV Ce
    centre is accessible to wheelchair
    users.                     Now opera to help, Claire Morgan,
      Alternatively, contact can be  left, and volunteer Moira Chadfield
    made by telephoning 0845 0505155
    during weekday afternoons (ex-      Cuppa
    cept Tuesdays) or Wednesday and
    Tuesday mornings. Written en-  campaigners pen
    quiries should be addressed to the
    Advice Point at Pinehurst People's  pressure to M P
    Centre, Room 25, Olive Grove,  People in Haydon Wick were in-
    Swindon, SN2 1JJ.          vited to a 'Campaign Cafe' at the
                               Fessey House day centre in
                               Brookdene on 15 and 16 February
                               to pen their thoughts on the level
            102 victoria road  of pensions to North Swindon MP
                    old town   Michael Wills.                     Ideal Home
                     swindon
                                 The campaigning cuppa con-
                        wilts  sumers pointed out that the pen-
                                                                     p
                   SNI 350     sion increases from April still fall  Im rovements
                               short of the £90 a week basic state
                     tel/fax:
                               pension Age Concern Swindon rec-
           (01793) 43 57 57    ommends. The Chancellor has       Installers of quality replacement PVCu
                               raised basic state pension from      windows, doors and conservatories
            creative           £69.50 to £72.50 and income sup-
                               port for pensioners from £78.45 to
                                                                                       ff
          inspiration for                                        Also fascia boards, so its and claddings
                               £92.15.
           your home             Age Concern estimates that up
                               to 650,000 older people nationally
          b     c    w         fail to claim the income support
                               they are entitled to because of bu-
                u     a        reaucracy, or fear of stigma.
                                 Age Concern Swindon director
                r
                               Jo Osorio said, "the increases in
                               basic state pension and income
          n     t     I
                               support are welcome but Age Con-
     t    d     a     p        cern research shows that older peo-
     0                         ple need at least £90 a week to live
          s     i     a
                               on and that is best provided
     n          n     p        through the state pension rather
     Y
                s     e        than means-tested support, which
                               many older people do not claim.  Styles and elegance to complement your home
     k                r          "There's an election coming and
                               MPs have to listen to people's con-  Free quotations & computer aided design service
                      S
              free             cerns. The Campaign Cafe was a
                               chance for older people, their fami-    Special rates on supply only
                               lies and friends to express their
     W     design and
                               views on pensioner incomes and            For further details
        measure service        ensure their voices are listened to
     ©     0    1  a  a  U     in the campaign for a more ad-    Telephone or Fax: 01793 855492
                               equate basic state pension."
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