making a difference 88,000 times a year

This represents a 30% increase on the previous year and was largely due to the expansion of our phone based services.

“Each of these contacts represents an individual experiencing serious problems or personal crises,” said Bureau Chief Executive Simon Harris.

“The majority of our work still revolves around debt, our largest area of work for the first time, and welfare benefits. The preponderance of these queries in our workload demonstrates that poverty remains a major issue for the people of Stoke on Trent.

Despite improved levels of employment within the city, we are still seeing significant numbers of people affected by redundancy, unemployment, and the consequences of a low wage economy.

Many people experiencing serious debt problems do so because their wages or social security benefits are inadequate to meet their needs, and their only option is to borrow money, often at extremely high interest rates, to bridge the gap.

Many other people suffer serious financial problems when their relationships fail. Family budgets which were manageable when a couple were together, hit crisis point following separation and the loss of the main or only income.

Poverty impacts on people’s housing conditions and the security of their homes. People in debt are at greater risk of losing their homes and we regularly represent people in court to prevent eviction and keep a roof over their head.

We have been working closely with the City Council’s homeless section using advice work to prevent homelessness.

Employment is now seen as the main route out of poverty, but we regularly advise people whose employment has been jeopardised by discrimination or the failure of employers to recognise basic employment rights.

As the law surrounding employment changes rapidly and becomes more complex, there is an increasing need for workers to have access to independent advice on disputes at work to prevent exploitation and maintain the jobs that have been created.

The City’s well publicised history of ill health contributes significantly to levels of poverty. There are many people who will remain unable to benefit from the City’s economic regeneration. It is essential that their needs for accurate, accessible and independent advice are met.

Advice work can change people’s lives. It can reduce the enormous anxiety which affects people in debt; it can improve the health of some of the poorest people by increasing their incomes, giving them more money to spend on food, fuel and other essentials.

It can help and support people challenging discrimination, and it can help support communities seeking to engage with public services and regeneration initiatives.

Stoke CAB has always stood shoulder to shoulder with the poorest and most deprived communities in this City recognising that our core business of advice work can have a major impact on people’s lives.

We are committed to continuing to champion the interests of the City’s poorest residents, believing that challenging poverty and discrimination is essential if the City is to become prosperous and successful in the future.