Girton Citizens' Advice Bureau

Every Monday between 1-3pm, Girton Town Charity funds a free weekly advice centre hosted by the Citizens' Advice Bureau (CAB). This service based at the doctors' surgery in Pepys Way helps people make informed life management decisions.

The old adage 'a change is as good as a rest' may ring true with some people, but for many of us, sudden change can also bring drawbacks.

Mary and Bob are no exception. Happily married and in their 50s, both were looking forward to a short break away to see their daughter who had recently married. On their way, they were involved in a car accident. Thankfully, Mary escaped unscathed, but unfortunately, Bob's leg was fractured in several places, meaning his recovery will involve a considerable hospital stay. What's more, he's going to have to keep it immobile and rested for at least several months. Suddenly, the excitement of the impending holiday is a long distant memory.

Mary is worried. If her husband doesn't go back to work soon, he will be on half pay - how will they service the mortgage? Mary doesn't work so are they entitled to any benefits? Mary needs answers to ensure she has enough time and information to make the right decisions for her family.

This is what the advice centre, run by Cambridge CAB, is about. Real people: real life. No individual can have the knowledge and experience to deal effectively with all that life throws at us. This is when we might need some additional expertise in order to deal with the situation.

Did you know that nationally, one third of the population of the UK is actively using legal assistance of one kind or another at any given moment? Most of these people are reacting to some sort of incident or change, a death in the family, problems at work or a relationship breakdown for example. Whilst not every enquiry is a legal issue, Citizens' Advice realises that any change in life circumstances can provoke stress, making even the most rational clear-headed people feel out of their depth.

Kim Stollard, Head of Operations for the Cambridge CAB says 'Citizens' Advice delivers pragmatic tailor-made advice and information. We're not about making people's decisions for them, but about equipping them with the tools and the information necessary to manage their lives more easily. We are also a key that unlocks the door to other services such as advocacy, legal representation or counselling.'

Currently most funding streams are targeted at socially excluded groups. However, CAB believes that all sectors of society should have equal access to key services and resources, to promote community cohesion.

Kim says, 'It's harder to secure funds for the ordinary man or woman on the street who might occasionally need advice. Many people believe they are capable of going it alone, but sometimes they miss out on accessing the right tools and services that would ensure they manage each situation the best they can'.

Following £1.7million investment for Cambridgeshire, a unique advice powerhouse has been given the go-ahead. The Advice Hub, based in Cambridge, will service the need for tailor-made advice throughout the county. It will house services from a variety of organisations providing a one-stop solution for the people of Cambridgeshire.

Girton Town Charity, in partnership with The Advice Hub, is looking to fund a Community Hub in Girton providing services tailored to the needs of the Girton residents. The CAB is keen to hear from you what those services should be. Please send any suggestions to girton@cambridgecab.org.uk.

For more information, log on to the website: www.cambridgecab.org.uk