A CITIZEN’S Advice Bureau (CAB) is looking to recruit a large number of volunteers to reach more people out in rural areas - as communities are increasingly hit by cuts to buses and other services.

Hambleton and Richmondshire CAB began its Rural Reach project in October last year after receiving Big Lottery funding to expand its outreach services to Hambleton.

It enabled the advice bureau to open up a service in Bedale Library, Topcliffe Surgery and Easingwold Library and at the GP surgery in Aldbrough St John, in addition to existing services in Richmondshire.

But now it hopes to expand the service further as more people struggle to reach services with the loss of public transport links.

Advice and project co-ordinator, Rachel Hunter said: “We have opened four new outreaches but we would like to open new ones in places like Thirsk and Stokesley and need volunteers to come on board and move the programme on.”

The volunteers could help provide services out in new districts, or work from the CAB’s bureaus in Northallerton and Richmond, allowing existing staff to move out to outreach programmes.

CAB offers advice and information on a range of matters from housing to debt, benefits, discrimination and family relationships. In complex matters requiring case work, such as help with employment tribunals, benefit appeals, or debt management plans, it offers appointments with one of its specialists or can make a referral to another specialist organisation.

With many rural communities losing services from Post Office to bank branches and buses, the CAB has found there is more need than ever for its service.

“There are all sorts of cuts that are preventing people from accessing services,” said Rachel.

“The local transport links are being lost; buses are being cut. I got a message from someone in Catterick recently who said that from April their bus service was being halted and he wanted to offer us a place in the village hall so we could offer advice at things like mother and toddler groups.

“But we’re finding people are desperate for information, especially with the changes to benefits. People are moving on to Universal Credit and many need advice on things like budgeting as they go from being paid every two weeks to every month.

“It’s vitally important we keep these outreaches running as well as all the other services.

"We would love to see more people come through the doors.”

The CAB provides full training and travel expenses to volunteers. For more information email: volunteer@hambleton.cabnet.org.uk or ring: 01748-826532 or 01609-776551. For more information on the CAB visit the website: www.hambletonandrichmondhsirecab.org.uk