Published at 11:07, Thursday, 10 May 2012

AT our meeting in the Civic Hall on April 26, attended by three colleagues from Workington Probus Club, Mandy Pfleger gave a talk and presentation on the work of the Cumbria Advice Network (CAN.)

Mrs Pfleger, a qualified librarian, worked at one time in the Audit Office in London and also worked as a consultant on information and knowledge systems before moving to Cumbria in 2006. At present she is the development champion for CAN, a five-year project funded by the Big Lottery Fund which is focused on the needs of those seeking advice and help in Cumbria.

Areas of advice and support, provided by some 131 member organisations, include debt and money advice and matters involving benefits, employment, housing, education, consumer, personal and family, domestic and sexual violence, etc.

Member organisations include Age UK, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Advisory Services, Alzheimer's Societies, Cerebral Palsy groups, Citizens Advice Bureau, credit unions, Debt Rescue and Money Advice, disability associations, domestic violence and rape support groups, fire and rescue services, food banks, dyslexia associations, Mind, Motor Neurone Disease Associations, Multiple Sclerosis Societies, Neighbourhood Watch associations, Trading Standards, Victim Support and many many more.

To obtain support anyone can, for example, visit their GP who, on medical grounds, can make referrals to suitable organisations. The Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) is another well-known organisation able to provide guidance to those in need. The main problem, however, is that where several different organisations are needed to resolve often complex problems, individuals usually have to liaise independently with them, which can be time-consuming and frustrating.

This is where CAN comes in as it attempts to coordinate the actions of several independent organisations in the resolution of problems of individual clients. The involvement of CAN generally speeds up problem solving processes and avoids the duplication of efforts by member organisations and this clearly saves money.

CAN has its own website which has links to the numerous member support organisations.

The service is unfortunately under threat due to the economic climate and CAN staff have had their working hours reduced. Unless funding can be obtained even the present limited CAN service will cease altogether in 2014.

Local authorities, albeit with stretched resources, surely ought to be able to provide the necessary funding in order to maintain this helpful service.

The vote of thanks was by Peter Johnston who himself is part of the West Cumbria Carers organisation, and he beautifully summed up the role of CAN as similar to that of a one-stop shop for those in need.

Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk