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The
country's 91 Citizens Advice Bureaux are able to offer even more
services than they were thanks to grants like the annual $2000 cheque
that each bureau receives from the Lottery Grants Board.
The
CAB offers free information and advice to anyone who wants it and
is now well on the way to joining the electronic age by offering
its clients advice via email and its web site, www.cab.org.nz
CAB
is run by 2,700 volunteers who are trained to provide information
and support to members of the public. The strength of CAB is that
it is a free service that is run by people in each community. Anyone
who needs information or support can either talk to a bureau advice
worker face-to-face, phone or email their local bureau. People out
of the free calling area for a bureau are encouraged to use CAB's
free-phone number, 0800 FOR CAB (0800 367 222) which will connect
them with their nearest bureau.
"We
know that many people now prefer to use a computer to access the
information they need," says Chief Executive Rachael Le Mesurier.
"For people who are housebound through a disability, this service
is important. We hope that as we load more and more of our core
information onto the site, more people will realise the value of
this relatively new resource."
The
Lottery Grants Board is a very important lifeline for 91 bureaux
as it enables them to operate year after year, says Ms Le Mesurier.
"I
don't know if people realise the vital role that this funding gives
our bureau. For many of them, it's the only regular grant they know
they will get every year and therefore is the bread and butter that
ensures they can pay the phone and the power bills, or other overheads
that mean the bureau can keep opening its doors.
"Without
the Lottery Grants Board grant each year, many CAB would not be
here. We are grateful that with Lotteries support we can continue
to help over half a million people nationally every year."
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