Citizens Advice Bury and Bolton moves into new site

So far this year, across its two catchment areas, CABB has helped around 8,000 people deal with more than 40,000 issues.

It has helped write off around £1m in debt and has help its clients to generate approximately £8m in income.

With the cost-of-living crisis, along with the housing crisis and other socio-economic issues people in across both boroughs are facing, CABB’s services have never been more needed, or more stretched.

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There are several ways that people in need of the charity’s service can get in contact with someone who can help, although CABB says it is aware that people are waiting a while longer to speak with someone that they would like due to the excess demand its phones and other communication lines are experiencing.

The charity has officially opened its new conveniently located premises in on Oxford Street in Bolton town centre.

The new site, which has been accepting clients for the past three weeks, has replaced its previous office space on Mawdsley Street and is seen as a welcome upgrade by CEO Richard Wilkinson.

CABB staff assisting a client (Image: CABB)

“In terms of aesthetic, this building is a much better customer experience,” he said.

“The previous building was very dark, there was no natural light, you had to go through a courtyard which was quite messy.

“It made for quite a depressing customer experience. Obviously, a lot of our customers are coming to us with problems of debt and housing and kind of depressing problems =.

“This building is on the high street so is much more visible to everybody, it’s much lighter and we’ve been ablet to build the space to make it exactly how we need it for clients.”

READ MORE: Cost-of-living pressures on Citizen's Advice 'unprecedented'

In a presentation to stakeholders, which included local MPs Chris Green and Yasmin Qureshi, Mr Wilkinson explained that for every £1 invested in CABB in 2021-22 it generated £3.63 in savings to government and public services.

Using a treasury approved model to calculate the figures, that £1 investment also generated £23.72 in wider economic and social benefits – such as getting people into work and therefore paying taxes – as well as making £13.82 in financial value to the specific people using its services.

Bolton West MP Chris Green said: “When friends and family gather to celebrate this Christmas, we will increasingly hear of the tough times so many face.

“Fortunately, our local Citizens Advice will be there to support many of us, so it was good to meet the team and hear how they are ready to give expert help."

MP for Bolton South East Yasmin Qureshi and CEO of CABB Richard Wilkinson (Image: Yasmin Qureshi)

Yasmin Qureshi, MP for Bolton South East, said: “Citizens Advice provides a crucial service to many residents across Bolton. Their support for those needing debt or financial advice, as well as those seeking employment opportunities, cannot be overstated.

“This makes the decision to cut funding to the Money and Pensions Service even more concerning, as it will cut our branch’s funding at a time when their demand is growing.”

If you have a story or something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at lewis.finney@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on Twitter @lewisfinney18.