Manager Janet’s sterling service (From Bury Times)

Manager Janet’s sterling service

8:00am Saturday 19th January 2008

• Print
• Email
• Share

IT was a case of lucky 13 for Janet Brookes, training manager with Bury District Citizens Advice Bureau.

She was presented with a long service certificate to mark the number of years she has given the service.

The Citizens Advice Bureau's (CAB) annual meeting, held at Bridge Methodist Church in Radcliffe, heard that the bureau had dealt with 15,000 enquiries in the last year. It raised £700,000 for Bury residents in new benefit claims and appeals, as well as dealing with hundreds of thousands of pounds' worth of debt.

Speakers included Councillor Yvonne Creswell, deputy council leader; Ruth Fairhurst, Bury Council's assistant chief executive; and Marie Brookfield from Bury's new Third Sector Development agency.

The CAB is also starting the new year with a "Debt Detox" to help people manage their money.

It gives handy tips, ranging from the best ways to shop around for loan deals and savings rates, consolidating debts, using credit cards, renewing insurance policies, and maximising benefit take-up.

Gail Dewis, Bury District social policy co-ordinator, said: "All too often we see people when they've already reached crisis point or can no longer cope with their problems.

Yet by carrying out a regular financial overhaul and taking some preventative measures, many problems could be averted before they become crises.

Traditionally people make new year's resolutions to change bad habits and we're just urging people to do the same with their finances."

Contact the CAB on 0845 120 3757 or visit www.adviceguide.org.uk

• Print
• Email
• Share