GNWCAB Digest 6

THE MONTHLY BUREAU ROUND-UP ! NEWS YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS

NEW JAN - MAR 2018 | ISSUE 06

GNWCABDIGEST
Glasgow North West Citizens Advice Bureau

Celebrating EXCLUSIVE!
International
Women's Day BREAKING
NEWS
See the highlights from
our Courtyard WE HAVE
Connections Event LAUNCHED!
Check out our
YOUR BUS, exciting Premises
YOUR SAY Launch Event on
:THE RESULTS
Page 4!
Did you voice your
opinion on your ALSO
local bus service,
well check out the Easter Take an exclusive
look inside our
results! Closures
new office and the
Page  3 enhanced facilities

that we have!
Page 5!

MAPCABDIGEST

WELCOME FROM...

Our Chief Officer

Hello All
And welcome to our new issue of our GNWCAB Digest.
Spring has finally sprung and the Bureau has been kept busy since our last issue with some

exciting news and events to share with you all.
With our move to our brand new premises we have been able to welcome our clients, funders,
local elected members and partners into a much bigger, brighter and more progressive Bureau –

and we can’t wait to have you all on this journey with us!
Our team of staff & volunteers here at the Bureau have been outstanding with their approach to
the hard work they have continued to give while in the middle of a lot of change. So a big thank
you goes out to everyone for bearing with us as we continue to improve and develop our service

for the local communities we serve in NW Glasgow.
Please enjoy reading about our big move, the new facilities we are able to offer, and all of the

achievements and events our team has been involved in over the last three months.
On behalf of myself and the GNWCAB Team I would like to wish you all a Happy Easter and

enjoy the long weekend!
Sarah Erskine
CEO

2

News FLASHMAPCABDIGEST
Your Bus, Your Say:  The Results

73% of people who use bus services in Glasgow are dissatisfied with the punctuality of
the local services, according to a new survey published today (7 March).

75% The survey also found that: 59%

77%

75% are dissatisfied 77% are unhappy with 59% said they
with fare information the value for money of use the bus
and 70% with fare
their local service. more than three
accuracy. Deemed one of the most times per week.

important aspects for
passengers in the city.

"The response to this campaign has been fantastic in Glasgow and very valuable opinions and feedback
has been shared. It is evident that people are passionate about having a reliable, affordable and

acceptable bus service and these results reflect a current state in which does not meet the standards that
people deserve.

We would like like to thank all of our clients who took part in the Your Bus, Your Say Campaign survey
and we hope it is the catalyst to positive outcomes and enhanced bus services in your local areas"

Sarah Erskine - GNWCAB CEO

The Scotland-wide results are available at www.cas.org.uk/betterbuses

Easter Closures

The Bureau will be closed for Friday Monday
the Easter Weekend on; 30 to 2

March April 3

Inside... Our Premises
Launch

Launched by Bob Doris

On Friday 16th March we officially launched our new
premises with the help of our local MSP Bob Doris, who
we were delighted was able to make the time to come
along to our new Bureau and support our services with

a very appreciated speech! 

We had the privilege to welcome along a great turn out
of our Funders, Partners, Local Community Groups and
Businesses as well as Local elected members and their
teams.  It really is fantastic to have great support and

the partnerships we have built and hope to maintain
over the years.

Our new building offers enhanced facilities including
more public reception space, more private areas for
consultation, a digital suite for local people to use and
get assistance with online support, and a range of

information and support.

Please be sure to make note of our move
and share withTuaelsWldwaeynhso,owWueasdlsneoehtshdavaeeysscoeannrtdviniTcuheouu.rssddaryosp,-winitdhasypseocnialist

GNWCAB appointments offered on Mondays and Fridays.

Launch Event

Come visit us!

4

Our new Inside...
premises

Fantastic new Private Client Booths and working New design &
spaces, created by local printing firm Soapbox Designs.  bigger space

They provide a great visual presence in the office and
having more space allows us to accommodate more
clients at the one time, reducing queues and enhancing

the client's Bureau journey. 

oppDoigrtiutanlities New digital suite for public use, being a cqosNupmeaofucomeertsaobr&ele
developed to provide in-house digital
support to clients which will be crucial
with the introduction of full-service
Universal Credit to our communities by

the end of the year. 

A bigger, less stressful waiting area - that
allows clients to be in out of the elements with
plenty of seating to  accommodate our clients

on drop-in days 

We would also like to welcome LifeLink, who will be 5
sharing our new space.

Come visit us and make note of our new drop-in days 
9am-4pm Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday

MAPCABDIGEST SECIOV REETNULOV

VOLUNTEER SUCCESS

Our former volunteer Ross Montgomery has just recently made the big
move to London and has settled down with a job offer from Greenwich

Citizens Advice Bureau as an Adviser on a Seafarers' Project.
This is fantastic news and we wish Ross every bit of success and luck in

his new career path and future!
It is great for us to hear back from our former volunteers and how they
have progressed onto job or further education opportunities and see how

far they have come!

Welcome Our Volunteers

We are currently running our latest Volunteer Training Programme, who have progressed
through the training units and are now set to join the team in the Bureau to shadow mentor

volunteers and make their way through the rest of the programme.
It is an exciting time for our new volunteers as they build on their experience and help to

contribute to the hard work our volunteers show to our clients using the service!

6 Good luck to our new group and welcome to the team!

MAPCABDIGEST

CELEBRATING CLIENT CASE SUCCESSES STNEILC GNITARBELEC

Case Study 1

CL suffers severe depression and anxiety as well as significant health problems. He had to leave
work due to these issues and has been hospitalised a number of times causing unsettlement of his
crucial medication. An ESA claim was made with supporting medical evidence and CL has now been

placed in Support Group. While still working CL had PIP claim rejected but now condition has
worsened CL was advised to apply again which was successful and now receives enhanced daily
living which further entitled them to Severe Disability Premium on their ESA. Due to financial woes

the CL was struggling with mortgage payments which with this increase in income has helped
significantly. Continued support was given to apply for council tax reduction and a bus pass, to
reduce isolation. With the integrated support given between our adviser and his link worker they

would not have coped and may not even be here, the service helped save them!
A total financial gain of £16, 591 was secured for the CL – fantastic work!

Case Study 2

One of our Volunteer Tribunal Workers successfully won an appeal that benefited
a whole family's situation.

The main CL was taken off Personal Independent Payment (PIP) and the case was proceeded to an
appeal to further emphasis the CL's case as to why they were entitled to this disability benefit. The
case was successfully represented by our adviser and the CL was awarded the highest rate of PIP.

This in turn entitled the CL's mother to claim for Income Support Allowance and Carer's Allowance.

With the hard work from our adviser during the appeal and tribunal process the total financial gain for
both the CL and her Mother was £12,349.60 - fantastic outcome!

7

MAPCABDIGEST

LADIES & GENTLEMEN...

Our Staff

Tackling Social and
Digital Exclusion 

with SCVO

We were delighted to be invited along to the SCVO Tackling
Social & Digital Exclusion event at The Lighthouse, Glasgow, to

highlight our experience with our Digital Inclusion project. 

We were able to highlight the benefits and barriers that we got
from the project we run and share some of our clients stories of

how they used our free digital support service. 

With release of more and more of the Welfare System and
Services migrating online, the need to bring awareness
and support of Digital Inclusion is more important now
more than ever for the Bureau.

To sign your organisation up to SCVO Digital Participation Charter, see here;
http://digitalparticipation.scot/

New Staff

With our move into our new premises we have had an addition to the GNWCAB
Team - we would like to welcome Angelle on board as our new Receptionist. 
Angelle's friendly face will welcome all of our clients and volunteers into our new

office and we are glad to have her as part of the team

8

MAPCABDIGEST

A Celebration of 8th March
International 2018
Woman's Day

In partnership with Maryhill Integration Network & Home Start Glasgow North we came together
for a Community Connections Event to celebrate International Women's Day, March 8th 2018.

Funded by Glasgow Violence Against Women Partnership & Community Safety Glasgow we were able
to provide an afternoon of laughter, signing, dancing, emotion and delicious international food. 

We had a jam packed afternoon with thanks to the following;
Joyous Choir shared global songs of empowerment and celebration of women;
Seffana Aljbwai shared a heartfelt poem 'Leaving Homeland' about her own personal experience of

leaving her home in Syria;
Indian Dance Group showcasing fusion dances of India and Scotland, bringing together cultures;

Zumba dancing from Amy Sinclair, getting everyone involved to have fun;
And then finished off with fantastic and delicious international food prepared by volunteers from

our partner organisations.

We thank everyone who attended, contributed and made the day what it was - it
was great to see so many people there celebrating the achievements and
empowerment of women!

9

GNWCABDIGEST Social Media
Highlights

Above highlight our Partnership Connections on Twitter with local
working through Facebook with elected members including our Launch

MIN & Homestart for Event with MSP Bob Doris and a CAB
International Women's Day Visit from MP Paul Sweeney

Facebook: @GNWCAB Twitter: @GNWCAB

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