Debt drives CAB to ask for help

Volunteers are given training and paid travel expenses

The "monster issue" of debt is driving more people to seek help but one Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) is so overwhelmed it needs more advisors.

The bureau in Abergavenny in Monmouthshire needs 10 more volunteer advisors to cope with demand.

It only opens three days a week but the numbers seeking advice turning up means it has to close its doors early because the waiting room is full.

The manager said the majority of their clients were struggling with debt.

Debt is a really, really monster issue Linda Davies

Citizens Advice Bureaux offer confidential help with debt, consumer rights, employment, housing and legal problems and welfare benefits.

Linda Davies, manager at the Abergavenny branch, says more people are asking for help following overpayment demands to families who claim the working tax and child tax credit schemes.

She said: "Debt is a really, really monster issue.

"Most people who come to us need help with trying to sort out benefits problems like overpayments with working tax credits or child tax credits.

"But there are other issues too - sorting out debt is a major problem for a lot of people.

"And of course a lot of people need help filling out forms for bankruptcy and disability living allowance which can take a long time to do.

"The waiting room is always full and we really would like to get some more volunteer advisors to help us."

'Vital service'

Ms Davies said recruiting the 10 extra volunteers would enable the bureau to open more days a week and for longer hours.

"It's a vital service which is definitely needed and I don't think our branch is alone in needing more advisors to help people," she said.

Volunteers, who will be fully-trained and paid travel expenses, are asked to give one day a week.

"We would like to open for more days and for longer," said Ms Davies.

"It can be stressful but it's also very rewarding when you help someone to sort through their problems," she added.