Support

Community Champions Project

Advice

Citizens Advice BureauSouth Worcestershire Citizens Advice Bureau (SWCAB) is working to help people living in rural areas of Wychavon access the advice services they need more easily. Often individuals don’t know where to turn when faced with a worrying situation – whether about money, benefits, employment, housing or even their health – but Community Champions can help provide the answer.

Acting as a local point of contact, Community Champions offer a gateway to advice services, explaining to people in the community what advice and services are available and referring individuals to the CAB or partner agencies. Based in their own or neighbouring communities, Community Champions are people who know and care about their community.

There are currently two Community Champions active in Wychavon:

Carole Kingston, the Community Champion for the Eckington, Defford and Strensham area, says: “As local volunteers we can be more readily available to people who may not have their own transport, or who may have lost their local bus service and can’t necessarily travel to their local CAB office. We can signpost people to the advice they need, be it from the CAB directly or other organisations like DIAL, Age UK, Relate or CRUSE etc.”

Clive Phillips, Community Champion for Bretforton, Offenham, Cleeve Prior, the Littletons and Bickmarsh area agrees and comments: “Community Champions come from all walks of life, bringing different skills and abilities with them. They have the opportunity to interact with the local community and make a difference to people’s lives”.

The CAB is the UK’s largest advice charity and offers free, confidential, impartial advice to everyone who needs help. For further information about the Community Champions project, or to become a Community Champion volunteer, please contact:

Jacqueline Smith

Telephone: 07935 407190

Email: jacqueline.wychavoncab@gmail.com.