June 6, 2011 1.55 pm This story is over 166 months old

Advice charity keeps Lincoln council grant

Charity cash: Despite cuts, the City of Lincoln Council will continue its yearly grants to the Citizen Advice Bureau and Dial-a-Ride.

The Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) will still get a £50,000 grant from City of Lincoln Council this year, despite local authority cuts.

After a review by the City Council on the cash it gives to external organisations, the council’s executive decided to continue its full grant to the CAB.

It’s a charity that gives free advice to people on legal, financial and personal matters

Grants to three external organisations were reviewed as the council tries to save money.

As well as the CAB, the two other organisations in the review, Dial-a-Ride and Shopmobility, will retain funding from the council of £47,210 and £28,960.

The council will also continue to fund a CAB advisor in Lincoln Magistrates Court, who helps people facing rent or mortgage possession hearings.

Councillor Ric Metcalfe, Leader of the City of Lincoln Council, said: “We are committed to the savings programme and are confident that we will make the necessary savings to meet the targets we’ve been set, but reducing grants to valuable organisations like the Citizens Advice Bureau is not on the cards for us at this time.

“We think the CAB has a vital role to play in bringing Lincoln through these difficult economic times – now is exactly the point when people need the excellent support and advice it provides.”

Roy Trotter, Bureau Manager at the Lincoln and District Citizens Advice Bureau, said: “We’ve done an enormous amount in Lincoln to improve the quality of, and access to our services over the last five years, and we are now helping twice as many people as before.

“It’s pleasing that our efforts to improve our services have been recognised and we have managed to secure City Council funding.

“In these difficult times, all our residents need to know that we are there to help them, whatever their problem.”

The Citizens Advice Bureau can be found at the main bureau in Beaumont Fee or outreaches in the Abbey Neighbourhood Office, the Moorland Community Centre, St Giles Community Centre, and the Birchwood Access and Training Centre.

There’s also a Lincolnshire Adviceline on 08444 111 444.

Source: City of Lincoln Council | Photo: Kelly Moore for The Lincolnite