Through thick and thin, Citizens Advice Bureau Helensville has been in! Living with Covid-19 lock-downs this year hasn’t locked CAB volunteers out of continual help and support for clients. But it’s taken a different look- mainly through the 0800 phone number and email contact rather than our traditional face-to-face interactions.
Across NZ, an on-line presence is also the natural trend with CAB’s national website gaining increasing usage to 250,000 hits each month.
The website’s simple and clear directions even gained recognition in this year’s Plain English Awards as the Best Organisation- Plain English Champion.
“It is an acknowledgement of the work of our 2,500 volunteers across Aotearoa who deliver our service to clients in a way that is both easy for them to understand, and that also includes empathy and respect for those clients,” says Dr. Andrew Hubbard, Citizens Advice Bureau Acting Chief Executive.
Throughout 2021, our Helensville office has networked closely with many community groups and organisations like WINZ, South Kaipara Men’s Trust, Te Ha Oranga, Kindred Family Services and The Angel Fund to ensure residents have an all-round delivery of service.
Board secretary Rani Timoti says clients have mainly inquired about issues around rental housing, relationships and budgeting and general financial difficulties through to conditions of work, legal services and consumer law.
“Volunteers have also connected with locals by visiting rural communities including Shelly Beach and Muriwai to provide information about their service and answer questions,” she says.
Budgeting and Justice of the Peace services have been in hot demand with our window displays popular for events, information and promotions.
“Our Helensville volunteers appreciate every visit, call or on-line interaction from our clients and thank our supporters and funders during such topsy-turvy times,” says Rani. “We wish everyone a wonderful and safe festive season and look forward to catching up with our communities next year.”
