Annual Report 2023-2024

        CASTLEMILK CITIZENS ADVICE

                          BUREAU

                  ANNUAL REPORT

                         2023/2024

CASTLEMILK CAB IS FUNDED BY GLASGOW CITY COUNCIL & GG&CLYDE NHS

REGISTERED CHARITY IN SCOTLAND – SC051787

REGISTERED WITH THE FCA – FRN1013217

Manager’s Report                      Angela Molloy

The AGM covers the period April 2023 to March 2024. I can report that Castlemilk CAB continues to be overwhelmed with client’s seeking advice and assistance.

The office is open for drop in Monday – Thursday from 9.30am -12.30pm and we provide appointments in the afternoons for form filling. The drop in is extremely busy and we have had to close the door an hour after opening on several days to cope with the volume of clients that have come in.

Demand on the service had continued throughout the year due to the cost-of-living crisis we saw a greater demand from clients needing assistance with food and fuel an increase in referrals to the foodbanks and home energy Scotland.

The Bureau began talks with Castlemilk Law centre and Castlemilk credit union with regards sharing the premises at 155 Castlemilk drive. With the demand on the service the current premises are too small to deal with the volume of clients we are trying to support.

The bureau went through their operational audit from Citizens Advice Scotland we initially had observations to complete the audit a few of the issues were connected to moving to the new SCIO the audit was eventually signed off as passed.

The Bureau began a new project with Castlemilk Law centre in April 2023 this is a two-year funding which allowed the Bureau to employ the previous money advice trainee who’s 1 year contract was about to end.

The Bureau had a social policy officer which was appointed through a project run by the eight Glasgow bureau. This has become a great asset to the bureau that we can keep on top of social policy and report this to CAS who will lobby Scottish government with the issues and trends they see being reported.

Our early years worker Lorraine Wallace left to take up employment with Govanhill Housing Association. It has been noted by all GAIN agencies that when it comes to salaries the third sector are unable to compete with the housing associations due to the year-on-year reduction of our funding.

We have assisted 5438 clients with 7347 issues.

The Bureau assisted 36 clients at Tribunal

The total financial gain achieved for 1240 clients was £2,201.482.46

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the board staff and volunteers for all their continued commitment and hard work enabling us to reach the most vulnerable people in our community.