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News Money heads list of concerns
FINANCIAL issues continue to dominate the list of problems for Maidstone residentswhoseek help from Citizens Advice Bureau. Advice on benefits and tax credits topped the list of enquiries in 2014/15, with 25% of clients needing help in this area, with a further 19% needing advice on debt. Employment (12%), housing
(11%) and relationships and family (9%) followed. The bureau dealt with 7,300 clients during the year, creating a total of 24,893 points of contact, of which al- most half (46%)were face to face ap- pointments and25%telephone calls. The bureau secured £300,681 for its clients and had a further £334,319
in debts written off. Almost all clients (95%) were
happy with the service they received and the main cause of criticism was longwaiting times for advice. Addressing the annual meeting, chairman Sir Michael Buckley said: “To some extent, they are the in- evitable consequence of the time re- quired to explore the problems of clients and to give them full advice. “I am proud that the bureau has
gone from strength to strength in the difficult financial climate of the past few years, but very conscious that the credit for this rests with the staff and management and my fellow trustees.” The bureau has 31 paid staff and
76 volunteers, but is always looking to recruit more. Chief executive Bonny Malhotra
said: “I never cease to be surprised by the level of commitment given by our volunteers in Maidstone. Col- leagues, both paid and unpaid, are this organisation’s powerhouse and events bear witness to the fact that even under extreme pressures we have continued to provide an excel- lent service.” He said the bureau had suffered
from austerity – cuts in local author- ity funding and funding for domes- tic abuse, along with support from the legal aid agency and other small funding streams – but a number of new opportunities had opened up.
Operating from its base in Bower
Terrace and at Maidstone Gateway, advisers now help those migrating from benefits to Universal Credit. It has also become the delivery centre for PensionWise in Kent and Med- way. Mr Malhotra said: “Often provid-
ing a bespoke service at both venues has been difficult to manage but vol- unteers rally to our cry of help and give us additional days above their duty days.” The bureau provides outreach services in Park Wood, Marden and Headcorn aswell ashomevisits and also provides an advice service in Maidstone prison for inmates, their families and prison staff.
PCSOs rewarded for bravery in gun incident
TWO community support officers who seized a firearm from a man in Headcornwere among 60 police of- ficers, civilian staff and members of the public to receive awards at the West Division area commander’s ceremony. Maidstone PCSOs Dave Rowley
and John Boyd wrestled the gun from the 64-year-old man, who had reported nuisance youths near his home. They are pictured with mayor
Cllr Daniel Moriarty. Also honouredwas detention offi- cer Danielle Finlay, based at Maid-
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Maidstone and Malling’s No.1 Free newspaper
stone Police Station,whowas recog- nised for her outstanding observa- tion skills after finding a quantity of the classAdrug fentanyl hidden in a secret pocket within a newspaper, which a woman had tried to smug- gle in while visiting a detainee. Victoria Hicks (38), of Sunningdale
Court, Maidstone, was jailed for 21 months after admitting possessing a classAdrug with intent to supply. West Kent Division commander
Chief Superintendent SteveCorbish- ley said: “Kent Police officers are called to difficult and potentially dangerous situations every day, and risk their safety to protect the public. “It is right they get the recognition
they deserve, and I amvery proud of everything they do. I would also like to congratulate those members of the public who showed tremendous courage in difficult situations, whose awards are alsowell-deserved.”
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