How South Lakes Citizens Advice Bureau can help businesses Keep - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

How South Lakes Citizens Advice Bureau can help businesses Keep Down Costs

John Dersley Trustee, Income Generation

South Lakes Citizens Advice Bureau – providing advice in debt, welfare benefits, employment, housing, legal, consumer issues

South Lakes Citizens Advice Bureau:

• Is part of the Citizens Advice national advice network
• Is a local charity serving all of South Lakeland
• Is a company limited by guarantee
• Delivers audited, quality assured advice
• Delivers this advice with about 60 trained volunteers

supported by a team of paid staff Our service is free, impartial, confidential and independent

South Lakes Citizens Advice Bureau – providing advice in debt, welfare benefits, employment, housing, legal, consumer issues

The service must be financially viable; our estimated expenditure in 2014/15 is £400k which we plan to cover by funding from a wide variety of sources:

 South Lakeland District Council  Cumbria County Council (contracts for specialist advice)  Town and Parish Councils  Charitable Trusts (often project based)  Big Lottery (always project based)  Contributions from businesses and individuals

South Lakes Citizens Advice Bureau – providing advice in debt, welfare benefits, employment, housing, legal, consumer issues

Most people think they will never need to use our services until they or a family member:

• Find themselves getting into debt
• Buy goods that turn out to be faulty
• Have a problem with their landlord
• Lose their job or have to take long-term sick leave - and

get lost in the welfare benefit maze

• Become separated or partner wants to get divorce - what

about the house, what about the children? We provide advice on a wide range of issues and refer clients elsewhere when appropriate

South Lakes Citizens Advice Bureau – providing advice in debt, welfare benefits, employment, housing, legal, consumer issues

If asked “what is your most important asset?”

• r

“what is most fundamental to your businesses success?” most managers or owners would say:

South Lakes Citizens Advice Bureau – providing advice in debt, welfare benefits, employment, housing, legal, consumer issues

“My staff/employees/workers”

because

• they are the contact with customers

 their skills make the product or service  their productivity directly affects profitability  their recruitment, training and pay are a major

business investment

South Lakes Citizens Advice Bureau – providing advice in debt, welfare benefits, employment, housing, legal, consumer and so much more

So, what if a personal problem – theirs or a family member's - affects performance?

• Customer care might be affected

 The quality of the product or service might be

reduced or wastage increased

 Productivity and profitability might fall  Sick absence can be lengthy and require

temporary staff

Cumbria Rural Citizens Advice Bureau – providing advice in debt, welfare benefits, employment, housing, legal, consumer issues

Personal problems can be caused by

 Financial pressures  Housing  Relationships  Work  Consumer issues

South Lakes Citizens Advice Bureau – providing advice in debt, welfare benefits, employment, housing, legal, consumer issues

Impact of our work: 2012/13

2011/12

Clients 3,376 3,092 Problems 10,651 9,641

The main areas were:

2012/13 2011/12

Benefits 3,672 38% 3,682 35% Debt 2,534 26% 3,255 31% Housing 643 7% 764 7% Employment 1,012 10% 1,022 10%

South Lakes Citizens Advice Bureau – providing advice in debt, welfare benefits, employment, housing, legal, consumer issues

What can you do to help us in this work?

• Spread the word that we're here; and here to help
• If you see an employee has a problem, refer him
• r her to us
• Distribute leaflets and display posters
• Include an article in your “in house” newsletter
• Become a Supporter - in kind or financially.

Thank you for your time.

If you want further information or would like to discuss anything in this presentation, please contact: Karen Evans

South Lakes Citizens Advice Bureau

Managermanager@cumbriarural.cabnet.org.

uk Tel: 015394 47185

South Lakes Citizens Advice Bureau – providing advice in debt, welfare benefits, employment, housing, legal, consumer issues