Meetings and Events
Meetings
Staff Meeting19th June 10am-12pm
Full Team Meeting17th July 2pm-4pm
Events
Staff - June Friday Night Indian Meal
VolunteersVolunteer Event Starting. Open to All Interested in Volunteering With Us. Please Feel free to Join!
Who is Who?
Volunteer Advisor:
Ian Veltman
Mike Baldwin
Neil Stewart
Shirley Campbell- Morgan
Volunteer in Training:
Ashley Catto
Graham Wark
Leonie Nimmons
Lorna Wilson
Mark Skilling
Stan Johnman
Alison Ball
Case Checking:
Gordon Smith
Volunteer Admin:
Rachael Buchanan
Margaret Plye
Anne Leslie
Social Policy:
Paddy Coffield
Board of Directors:
Morag Michell
·Pat Pugh
·John Ritchie
Trish Hughes
Chief Officer: Heather Knowles
Deputy Manager:
· Keith Schofield
Bureau Co-Ordinator:
· Clare Duncan
Admin and Triage Co-Ordinator:
· Charlotte Taylor
Admin and Reception Worker:
· Kirsty Adger
Outreach Advisor:
· Moreen Helling
Aberdeenshire Helpline Advisor
· Elaine Sutherland
Help to Claim Advisor: Karen Wood
Money and Debt Advisor: Julianna Wolfe
Welfare Rights Officer:
· Isobel MacDonald
Triage Officer:
· Julie Cairnduff
Case Study
Helena left her native Finland after her marriage of over 20 years had broken down. Part of her decision to wait for this time was to allow her son Timo at 16 years to be legally allowed to choose to be with Mum. Helena had chosen Scotland 9 years ago as she had found a school that would be able to cater for the needs of her Timo due to his Autism. She quickly found it difficult to gain financial support for Timo who would never be independent.
Helena came to her local Bureau and received support to get:
· Her son on her tenancy which means the housing element of his Universal Credit can be paid
· Helena has been supported by Bureau to prove her son does not receive benefits from her native Finland for Timo which has been deemed the competent state- this was blocking Timo receiving UK benefits
· Bureau has been getting documents translated into Finnish to prove that there is no benefits from Finland to Timo- he left as a child and has no National Insurance equivalent paid into
This case has been ongoing for about 9 years due to the complexity of a different country and benefit system to dialogue with. Helena is very grateful for the support of her current case worker: “She has been very helpful and has learnt difficult things about my case. It is a big relief to have someone understand my case. She is always willing to listen and learn how it is in my country. This is very impressive and she does not give up.”
Progress has been made on this case over a period of time and demonstrates some of the complex cases the Bureau can support with and we are hopeful that there will be further progress for the family in this.
All names and personal details have been changed for confidentiality reasons Consent was obtained
National Money Talk Plus Client Case Study
“Dan came into the Bureau for help with his finances as he was finding it difficult to make ends meet. A friend recommended he attend the bureau to see if he was entitled to any extra support. Dan has been a single parent to his two young children since his wife passed away. He lives with mental health challenges, as well as a learning difficulty. Dan is self-employed and some months he finds that there isn’t enough money in the business to pay himself a salary. As a result, he has fallen into debt.
The Adviser carried out a benefit check, which found that Dan was entitled to multiple social security payments to boost his income and help support his children. He was also advised that he could apply for a council tax reduction. This resulted in an extra £12,000 per year for the family, and he is receiving ongoing support from a specialist debt adviser to help stabilise his financial situation going forward.
Being new to the social security system, Dan didn’t think he qualified for any extra financial support because he was working. The Bureau made him aware of his entitlement, and as a result the family’s average monthly income has almost doubled. Dan was ‘delighted’ at the service he received at the CAB and said that his mental health has improved as a result.”
Dan’s case demonstrates that being in work is not a guarantee against poverty, especially for singleparent families. Cases like this illustrate the commitment of advisers to tackling the cycle of poverty by securing clients’ financial stability for the long term. It also exemplifies the community’s trust in the Bureau, as Dan was recommended the service by a friend after receiving support themselves All names and personal details have been changed for confidentiality reasons
Consent was obtained
ELANE SUTHERLAND
Why did you decide to Volunteer at KAMCAB?
I’ve always volunteered and was looking for a fresh and meaningful challenge after leaving my last role.
How have you found your time at KAMCAB?
I genuinely enjoy working at KAMCAB as I have a passion for learning and feel fortunate to be part of such a supportive team Before joining I had little understanding of what CAB did I’ve realised we play a vital role in bridging gaps the public sector often cannot reach especially in supporting vulnerable and disadvantaged members of our local community. It is a privilege to be trusted to listen, offer guidance, and make a difference in people’s lives
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What are you hoping to gain from your time at KAMCAB?
KAMCAB offers a fantastic opportunity to develop knowledge, skills and valuable experiences. Engaging with clients, staff and volunteers is incredibly rewarding not only contributing to my personal growth and confidence but also having a positive impact on my mental well-being.
Elaine Sutherland - Aberdeenshire Helpline Advisor
Foundation Scotland has awarded £6 million to the Citizens Advice Network in Scotland over the next couple of years
Foundation Scotland was founded in 1996. They provided small - scale grants across Scotland.
At the time there was one single employee and a large number of Volunteers.
For over 25 years - Foundation Scotland have been bringing together communities - funders and finance to support and strengthen communities in every corner of Scotland. They have distributed over £150 Million to communities across Scotland.
Foundation Scotland also deliver fixed term funding grants programme - which is funded by the National Lottery Foundation Scotland celebrated their 25th anniversary in 2021, and in 2022 they surpassed £150 million in funds distributed since launching in 1996.
https://www.foundationscotland.org.uk
https://www.facebook.com/FoundationScotland
https://x.com/FoundationScot
https://www.linkedin.com/company/foundation-scotland/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCu8tD8zRgDl4UhZCJ4yZv6w
