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Published by Maryhill & Possilpark CAB, 2017-05-25 10:18:18

MAPCAB Digest ISSUE 3 - DIGITAL (1)

MAPCAB Digest ISSUE 3 - DIGITAL (1)

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

NEW MAR-MAY 2017 | ISSUE 03

MAPCABDIGEST

Maryhill and Possilpark Citizens Advice Bureau

WHAT'S BUREAU 
NEW SPOTLIGHTS

Exciting FROM WELCOMES
Projects TO PROJECTS
starting for MICROSCOPE
the CAB 
EXCLUSIVE!
Volunteer 
Voices Ladies &
Gentlemen...
The core of the
CAB brings you OUR STAFF
successful
stories & SEE THE
appreciation ACHIEVEMENTS
AND WORK OUR
STAFF OVER THE
LAST FEW MONTHS

Social
Media
Highlights

See our latest eye
catching posts from
our social media

|
|

MAPCABDIGEST

WELCOME FROM...

Our Chief Officer

Hello All.

I am delighted to be starting this new financial year with the continuation of a strong range of advice services geared to the
needs of our diverse local communities, and to be adding two exciting new pilot community Projects to our portfolio:
‘The Benefits of Going Digital’ funded by SCVO and running in conjunction with partners in Lambhill Stables, Milton Arc and
Maryhill Hub; and with Woodlands Community Food funded by the Community Resilience Fund to provide a new weekly advice
outreach to approximately 60-80 people from across the city.

2017/18 is going to be a challenging year for us and for the communities we serve, but together we will work hard to ensure
that we continue to support and empower our clients, and with an excellent team of staff and volunteers for this time ahead, as
well as a new Board of Directors, I feel positive about this year and what we can achieve together.

Sarah Erskine.

A NOTE FROM... 

Our Chair

My name is Elizabeth Gray and I am the new Chair of Maryhill and Possilpark Citizens Advice Bureau. I was delighted to be
nominated to this role earlier this year and I look forward to working with you and supporting the area of Maryhill and
Possilpark. I have worked previously with a number of organisations in the voluntary sector and was brought up in the Maryhill
area.

This is an exciting period of change for the Bureau and we are trying to navigate through these times of change and austerity
both of which can throw up all sorts of challenges. Over 300,000 citizens a year trust and depend upon the Citizens Advice
Bureaux in Scotland to support and advise them on any number of sensitive and complicated issues, and often in difficult
circumstances. These include benefits, debt, employment and consumer issues. For those facing these challenges, often
worried and isolated, we want the Citizens Advice Bureau in Maryhill and Possilpark to be your first port of call.

We have already started to review how we are run and build up the skills of our Trustees on the Board to ensure we have the
required expertise and passion to develop the organisation and support the community it serves. This combined with a team of
dedicated staff and volunteers will hopefully provide you with high quality, independent advice: we will do all in our power to do
just that.

Elizabeth Gray

2

MAPCABDIGEST

BUREAU SPOTLIGHTS

NHS PROJECT WHAT WE DO

fwfaetNS Who are we -  

Over the past couple of months we have had We are a project funded by and in partnership with
the pleasure to welcome new staff to the team Greater Glasgow & Clyde NHS  to provide outreaches across
in exciting new roles. three health centres in the North West Area of Glasgow.  

As part of a Glasgow University Internship we Location - 
would like to welcome Nicola Welsh to the
team as Research Engagement Intern, who This project is provided at 3 health centres in our
will be conducting market research in the surrounding area, including;
community to build awareness of the Bureau
brand amongst local businesses, Third Sector Maryhill Health Centre
& Community Groups - for 10 weeks. Possilpark Health Centre
Woodside Health Centre
Our own volunteer Alex O'Connor will be
coming on board as Outreach Development What we do - 
Worker for a 6 month period through
Woodlands Community Initiative to build and The project funds advisers to provide crucial advice to a
develop partnerships and links with local food range of residents in the community who have been
initiatives and emergency food aid providers. referred by their GP or valid health professional with
issues related to, but not limited to; Debt, Money Worries,
We also welcome back Alison Swain as our Benefits, Housing and Immigration.  Clients referred can
Money Adviser for 3 months who will support range from low income families, families with young or
clients with debt and money queries and disabled children to mental health patients or clients
issues. with other health related issues.

With the process of being referred through a health
professional, they can identify the signs of some of the
above issues and direct them to us to provide crucial
advice, alleviating stress which can lead to mental
health issues and other health problems, the project
should have a positive impact on the health of clients.

3

LADIES &MAPCABDIGEST
GENTLEMEN...

Carol MacKay The process is not an easy one and your skills and
Operations & Finance Co-Ordinator knowledge helped me get the support I now need,
Carol achieved DISTINCTION in her Pitman's Sage 50 Accounts Course though I would gladly give it all up for the return of my
- Fantastic result! mobility but life does not work that way. It's good to
know that CAB are there to help those who need it
and the volunteers who give their time freely and
willingly to assist others, if there is some way I can
help CAB please let me know even if it is something

simple.
Once again many thanks

to you all.

Amber Cully Client Feedback from Tribunal
NHS/SLAB Delivery Lead Client to our Tribunals Worker
Received a fantastic and
thoughtful gift from a client Alphaeus Ngonga
though HUGBOX UK that
she helped get enhanced Megan Duffy
rate mobility & standard Digital Marketing & Funding
rate daily living on her PIP Assistant
claim Achieved an 85% Distinction
in her Chartered Institute of
Marketing Exam

We want to thank all clients that give us feedback on our service and kindly thank us with gifts, it is very much appreciated.
To keep up-to-date with Bureau news visit our Social Media pages (links found on back page)

4

MAPCABDIGEST

Our Staff

TEAM
ASSEMBLE

We would like to thank the team at Kinharvie Institute in
Glasgow for housing us for our Team Building Staff Training
Day.
It was a great day for the whole team to come together and
build up on their resilience and team spirit.
At MAPCAB we have many outreach staff working on various projects and this was a great chance
for all of the team to take a day out to work together and allow us to create a stronger team to provide
the service we do to all of our clients.

COMMUNITY
CONNECTIONS

We continually try to bring awareness of our services to our local community
and link in with local groups and organisations that would benefit from our
projects or training.
Our staff have been busy attending an array of information sessions, training
days or dropping in for 5 min talks to bring awareness about us.

These include some of the following organisations;
Glasgow Disability Alliance @Legacy Hub for InfoFest, Springburn Job Centre with
Community Safety Glasgow bring awareness of our Digital Inclusion Project, Dundard
Primary School Parents Evening Information Stand, Quarriers Drumchapel Info Session
on Immigration Rights, Parkhead CAB New Volunteers Training, LGBT Youth Information
Presentation and In:Spire Project website Launch Information Session, Phoenix Futures.
Thank you to all of the organisations that have invited us in to share our services.

5

MAPCABDIGEST SECIOV REETNULOV

A WALK IN THE SUCCESSFUL FOOTSTEPS OF  A
MAPCAB VOLUNTEER

Introducing... Fauzia's Story

Our Equalities Project aims to broaden volunteering opportunities and works in partnership with other third
sector organisations to recruit volunteers who identify with the protected characteristics.

Fauzia was encouraged to apply for our volunteer adviser training programme through her mentor at PATH,
as she was looking to change her career after having her children. Fauzia felt that this was important that
she show her family that she could retrain, as she wanted to be
“a role model for my daughter.”

Fauzia started her adviser training in October 2016, which she described as
“exhausting but enjoyable.” 

Through the training Fauzia’s confidence grew, and currently she has progressed onto becoming a solo
adviser. The Equalities Project provide regular reviews with volunteers, ensuring that we can address any
concerns and highlight areas they are interested in. Through this, Fauzia identified an interest in housing

and welfare rights.

Fauzia gained experience dealing with clients with a range of issues; negotiating on their behalf and
empowering them to exercise their rights. This challenging role in a supportive environment combined with

Fauzia’s own determination has led to her being offered a position on the
PATH Housing Traineeship Programme. 

Volunteering at CAB enabled Fauzia to re-enter the office environment, and Fauzia believes that she
“got the traineeship because of CAB.” 

Her motivation has always been to provide a positive role model for her daughters and develop her own
career; and through this experience she has been able to do just that.

The team here at MAPCAB would like to congratulate Fauzia in her success and
wish her luck for the future!

We would also like to thank each and every volunteer we work with day in and day
out for the tremendous work that they do for the Bureau.

For more details about Maryhill & Possilpark CAB and the Equalities Project,

6 please see our website www.mapcab.org.uk

MAPCABDIGESTSECIOV REETNULOV

VOLUNTEER
APPRECIATION

Our volunteers are a major part of the work we do at the Bureau and without them we
would not be able to continually provide this vital service to the community.

The hard work and dedication that volunteers give is very much appreciated by the
Bureau but as well by the clients that they provide the services to.

Here are some of the acknowledgements that volunteers have been given over the past
couple of months;

Keep up-to-date with Bureau news on our 7
Social Media pages (links found on back page)

2

MAPCABDIGEST

Whats             @ MAPCAB?

Benefits of Going Digital

We recently launched our new SCVO Funded Digital Project, Benefits
of Going Digital. Through this project we aim to empower the
community to build their digital skills and provide access to those
who do not have technology readily available.
Our purpose is to get our community further integrated into the digital
world and enhance digital skills that could lead to strengthened
employability or inclusive access in the ever changing digital services.
This project is carried out and in partnership with three local
community centres;

LAMBHILL STABLES (Mondays 10-2pm),
MILTON ARC (Tuesdays 10-1pm) &
MARYHILL HUB (Fridays 1.30-4.30pm)

and will provide FREE Digital Assistance with online forms, internet navigation or help & tips navigating your own
devices.
If you want more information contact us on 0141 948 0204 or email [email protected]

Woodlands Community
Food Initiative

A new project funded by the Community Resilience Fund to provide a new weekly advice outreach at Woodlands
Community Cafe to people from across the city.

This project will establish links & partnerships to local emergency aid and food initiatives to help combat the impacts of
welfare reform. Through these links we will be developing and sharing new information resources and running volunteer
information sessions.

8

MAPCABDIGEST

BUREAU ROUND-UP

Facts and figures of the Bureau

Stats gathered Bureau
2016-2017 Sucess Stories

Client Financial Gain Success #1

APPROX Client referred through health professional and has severe mental health problems,
took time to build a rapport with client due to paranoia and over thinking things.
£7 Million Client was self-employed and had a nervous breakdown, had ever been on benefits

Total Clients Assisted before and didn’t know what they were entitled to. 
APPROX A QBC discovered client could apply for ESA,PIP and Housing Benefit. We helped client
5000
complete applications for them all and they were all successful.
Drop-ins during months Manged to get client into ESA support group and was awarded PIP d/l with backdated
of March, April & May;
amount of 1102.00 which also gave client SDP onto his ESA.  Aso they got awarded
Drop-in New Clients Housing Benefit and a backdated lump sum £882.66
231
Outcome was very successful as got client awarded F/G TOTAL £18840.98
Drop-in Total Clients Client was very happy with outcomes and couldn’t thank us enough!

485 Success #2

Client had electricity and gas arrears and was struggling with
other debts as well.

Is on a prepayment meter and was concerned they were
topping up so much and it was contributing to debts resulting

in them struggling financially.
Client has to keep property warm and wash clothing regularly
due to health conditions. Applied to British Gas Energy Trust

and client was awarded £540 towards the debts. 

9

MAPCABDIGEST

LOOKING AHEAD

Upcoming Events

Volunteer Evening Event
31st May 2017

A chance for all current volunteers to meet up together and get to
know everyone. A light spread will be available and the night will also
include Certificate Presentation and a little healthy competition quiz -

brains at the ready!

CSoLrrOy!SWEE’RDE Bureau Closure
End of May Bank Holiday

Weekend
26th - 29th May 2017 

10

MAPCABDIGEST

Our BT Donate page is a great way for us to
raise funds for the Bureau! 

Follow the link below to take a look; 
www.mydonate.bt.com/charities/maryhil

lpossilparkcitizensadvicebureau 
 

Thank you to everyone involved in the Bureau
for your continued support of our service!

11

MAPCAB DIGEST

Highlights

Facebook:
@Maryhill&PossilparkCAB

Twitter:
@MaryhillCAB

Website:
www.mapcab.org.uk
Latest blog post here:
http://www.mapcab.org.uk/blog

LinkedIn: Instagram: YouTube:
Maryhill and Possilpark @mapcab2016 Maryhill and Possilpark
Citizens Advice Bureau Citizens Advice Bureau


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