Citizens Advice Cardiff and Vale
The Vale of Glamorgan is the most southerly point in Wales with both rural and urban areas. It extends from Penarth in the east to Ogmore-by-Sea in the west. The total population is 123,275. Cardiff is the largest city in Wales and the tenth largest city in the United Kingdom with a total population of 324,800.
The Vale of Glamorgan Citizens Advice Bureau began giving advice in 1967. In recent years the bureau has substantially developed its range of services.
Since October 2011 the bureau has provided a service in the city of Cardiff which is expanding rapidly.
Premises
The Vale service is run from an office in Broad Street, Barry with outreach offices in Penarth and Llantwit Major.
The Cardiff service is run from a central location in The library, Cardiff with outreaches across the city.
The office is located in premises that aims to provide a welcoming and friendly environment for clients, volunteer workers and paid staff.
Services
The organisation offers the following range of services:
· Open Access Services
We operate a drop-in and appointment service from our offices and various outreach offices.
· Telephone Advice: Mon–Fri 9am-5pm 0344 477 2020
· Better Advice Better Lives
Advice and casework through this service in provided in health care settings across the Vale and Cardiff.
· Money Adviser
Our money guide offers face to face sessions providing guidance and information in budgeting, savings/investments, insurance, borrowing, pensions, retirement planning, tax and welfare benefits. We cover the areas of Cardiff, Vale of Glamorgan and Bridgend.
· MAS DAP
This is a debt advice service funded by the Money Advice Service and provides a specialist debt service by referral. We cover the areas of the Vale of Glamorgan & Cardiff.
· IDMA (Integrated Digital Money Advice)
We provide debt advice via webchat to clients using the Adviceguide website
· Pension Wise
We are a Pension Wise Delivery Centre delivering the guidance services across Cardiff, the Vale and Bridgend.
· Communities First
We deliver debt and welfare benefits advice across Cardiff and the Vale at a variety of outreach venues. We also deliver financial capability training to various community groups.
· Discrimination Clinic
We deliver discrimination advice and advocacy once a week from a clinic in Barry
· Consumer Service Call Centre
· We are one of seven delivery centres across England & Wales providing a government funded consumer advice telephone service. We also provide the dedicated Welsh language service.
· Specialist Welfare Benefits Advice for Motor Neurone Disease Association
We provide this service via telephone, email and webchat across England and Wales
In addition to the above
· Shelter Cymru offer housing advice
· Family Law Solicitor
Ethos of the Organisation
The organisation is committed to developing quality services to meet the advice needs of as many individuals as possible, particularly the needs of the most disadvantaged communities. The organisation has a strong team ethos and a positive reputation for our commitment to equalities and to maintaining the highest standards in employment practice.
We aim to achieve best practice in all areas of our work including a continuing commitment to research and campaigning work.
We maintain strong links with community and statutory organisations both locally and across Wales.
Staff
At present the bureau has 83 paid posts and approximately 40 volunteer workers.
Management and the day-to-day running of the organisation is the responsibility of the Chief Executive. The Trustee Board has overall responsibility as trustees of the charity.
Citizens Advice membership
All Citizens Advice offices are members of the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureau and must meet the strict criteria laid down by Citizens Advice. The membership Scheme defines standards of service and management which must be met each organisation. These are regularly checked through rigorous audit procedures.