Patsy's talk covered off what the CAB is, and how it serves it’s community.
CAB’s began in the UK post war to assist people cope with war trauma, trace missing relatives, and to understand rules and regulations as a result of the war. Similar application during COVID, where CAB experienced many calls during lockdown ranging from enquiries re shared custody and employment.
The first CAB in NZ was the Ponsonby Branch which opened in 1970. The GI Branch is the 8th busiest out of 80 across NZL. All are Independent Charities. The GI branch is 90% Council funded, ($50,000 building and wages).
Volunteers receive 2 ½ days training, working for free providing confidential information, advice and community support. e.g. CAB also prepares white papers for Government, for example the paper on Digital exclusion in poorer areas.
The GI office is open 9-4 and has 50 volunteers. There are 2 shifts per day and there is no time pressure on meetings and individuals are free to visit the CAB at any time and free to raise any issues.
Volunteers are; 50% European, 25% Asian, 10% Pacifica, 5% Maori and 10% others, while the client base is 34% Maori, 30% Pacifica, 15% European and 21% all others. CAB is trying to get their volunteer base to be more reflective of the community.
The volunteers at CAB deal with a range of issues: family, consumer, immigration, employment, tenancy, flats, legal, traffic rules and regulations, healthcare, insurance, education, training. The trends in Glen Innes are mainly around the; food bank, rental housing, financial/budgeting advice, family and personal relationships, income support, conditions of work and immigration.
Specialist Services are available through the CAB, being clinics for Legal Counselling, Burmese, budgeting, JP, tax & IRD, family law, employment HR, panel beating, ACC, insurance and immigration.
There have been 3,500 in depth enquiries this year to date, and increase of 1,000 on last year.
Patsy then shared an example of a lady who wanted to buy a tablet advertised at $140 which she wanted to use to keep in touch with her family in Northland, but ended up spending $1,000 on an Ipad with all the trimmings at a large local electronics store. After several phone calls (to no avail), a CAB volunteer went to the store with the lady and she was subsequently refunded all and ended up with a simple Ipad without all the extra functionality she had previously been upsold to - Success!
She also shared an example of a lady who had left an abusive home with her children with only the clothes they stood up in. She had stayed with friends but they had no blankets. In stepped the Rotary Club of St Johns, who helped to provide these for the household. Club member Helen Stephens and her daughter also provided clothing for the lady and her children plus cash which had been donated by the Club and members.
There where other examples shared which highlighted the important role that the CAB, supported by our club, play in the community.
Patsy concluded with thanking the club for all it’s practical and financial help, with specific cases and the Food bank.
A big thank you to PE's Penny & Lesley for providing the above meeting review in the Editors absence.
At our last meeting we had the pleasure of welcoming back Patsy Sim, who is the Branch Manager of the Citizens’ Advice Bureau (CAB) in Glen Innes, a position she has held for the last 3 years.
THURSDAY AUGUST 13th - Breakfast Meeting, Remuera Golf Club 7.00 am. 
Your personal Invitation from Club Member and Principal of Glen Taylor School, Chris Herlihy;
The Fisherman:
