THE home visiting advice service provided by West Devon Citizens Advice Bureau is looking to help more local residents. The lottery-funded project is aimed at people unable to reach the bureau during normal opening hours. The visiting officers are able to advise on a wide variety of queries including benefit entitlements, housing issues, money worries and relationship problems. Last year, £188,148 was brought into West Devon from the work of just one part time visiting officer. Mandy Kenyon, development officer for West Devon CAB, said: 'I would encourage people who have been putting off asking CAB for help to do so now, whilst these home visiting services are available. 'We are really keen that people should know what their entitlements are and claim them, particularly in the current climate when everything seems to be costing more.' The service is funded until January 2009 and West Devon CAB is currently working to raise funds to maintain its provision. In the meantime appointments for a home visit in West Devon can be made by calling 01837 52105. l FIVE places are available on West Devon CAB volunteer training course which begins in June. The course, which covers interviewing and research techniques and an introduction to the many areas covered by CAB, can take up to six months to complete. Following this period, trainee advisors form part of the bureau rota, whilst continuing to build experience and attend more in depth training courses about subject areas. The CAB has a three stage recruitment process, beginning with an informal chat, an application form and a formal interview. For more information about volunteering at West Devon CAB, email [email protected]">[email protected] or telephone 01837 54840.
