Mindless vandalism attacks have failed to deter the work of Harold Hill's Citizens Advice Bureau and the team has bounced back and is ready for a profitable new year.

A spate of attacks resulted in the CAB having to shell out valuable resources, not only to repair the damage but also to take measures to prevent any repeat incidents. Now CAB chiefs have sworn they will not be beaten.

A welfare rights co-ordinator and a credit union co-ordinator have been appointed to the growing team and will begin working at the CAB at Gooshays Drive on Monday December 4.

And they will shortly be joined by an influx of new volunteers currently undergoing training, all thanks to the £250,000 grant money received in recent months.

Just last week Harold MP Keith Darvill paid a visit accompanied by the CAB's Jo Ratcliffe and David Lock MP, Minister with lead responsibility for the Community Legal Service.

Mr Darvill has supported the CAB for months and was instrumental in helping them to secure funding from the National Lottery. This was the perfect opportunity for Jo to show him just how the money is being put to use.

The cash started to pour in during July when £66,000 from the National Lottery Board was awarded and then in September, a further £170,000 rolled in, a combination of lottery and SRB money. Coupled with earlier funding, this brought the total to the quarter-of-a -million pounds mark.

Already the money has gone to excellent use. It secured Alan Kendall's position as volunteer development co-ordinator and attracted Frank Blair to the team as money advice co-ordinator and these two have been busy ever since, building for the future.

"Just before July, the CAB was starting to run out of money and I wasn't even sure how long I would have a job," explained Alan.

"The first grant was a lifeline but the second means we can do so much more for the community and the people in it.

"The attacks by vandals were a real blow though. We wasted a lot of money on repairs and security measures that could have been put to far better use throughout the area.

"But we won't be beaten by a mindless few and we are now looking forward to starting the new year in style."

Alan aims to train 60 people within four years, strengthening the long-term prospects of the CAB and there are also plans afoot to extend opening hours.

"Although we are open only on Wednesdays and Fridays we still work five days a week," added Alan. "On the other three days we have one to one sessions, by appointment only.

"When we have more volunteers we are planning to have at least one more 'open day', when people can just come in for our help and advice without making a prior appointment."

Not to be outdone, Frank is equally busy in his work. "I handle more specific advice, towards money problems," he explained, "The people I train are also able to help with more specific questions and therefore their training takes a bit longer.

"Money advice is very important here, especially since Havering Council stopped their money advice service. We are now the only place in Harold where people can come for help with money problems.

"What we need now is more volunteers to get involved especially those who live in Harold. Not only can our training help future employment prospects but you can make a real difference helping others."

For more information call Harold Hill Citizens Advice Bureau on 01708 384006.

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