Sevenoaks Citizens
Advice Bureau
Buckhurst Lane
Sevenoaks
TN13 1HW
Tel: 01732 454443
Fax: 01732 463164 Advice available by visiting us, telephoning us or by e-mail for those with a Sevenoaks connection
e-mail: click here Opening Hours: Mon, Tue, Thurs, Fri 9.30am - 3.30pm (Closed Wed.)
VOICING YOUR CONCERNS
At CAB we believe in speaking up for change when services and policies are failing.
As well as working with people to sort out their individual problems,
Sevenoaks CAB works with other CABx for a fair deal for everyone.
Whenever the CAB sees that services and policies are failing, we speak up
for change. We lobby our MP for fairer legislation, whichever political
party is in Government. We work to improve employment conditions, for
instance, and to make basic services like water and the telephone more
affordable for people on low incomes.
The CAB Service is completely confidential. We are also independent and
impartial, and so policymakers listen.
EVIDENCE FOR CHANGE
Evidence reports are published on the problems brought to Citizens
Advice Bureaux, for example on housing or benefits. In them the CAB
Service says what changes are needed to improve policies and services.
These reports often interest newspapers, radio and television. Journalists
like to "bring the story alive" by interviewing people who have
personal experience of the problems raised in them.
This can be an opportunity for you to have your say if you feel strongly about
what has happened to you.
HAVING
YOUR SAY
Giving an interview for an article or
programme can be rewarding because:
-
talking about your experience helps the public to understand what is happening
-
it can help to resolve a particular problem
-
it can help other people in a similar situation because drawing attention to an issue makes it more likely that something will be done about it.
But talking to the media also needs careful thought beforehand because:
-
it can be time consuming
-
the article or programme you appear in could be seen by people who know you
-
on a very busy news day, stories can be squeezed out and your interview may not be used after all.
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN CONTACT WITH THE MEDIA?
During your interview at the Sevenoaks CAB, you may like
to talk to your adviser about contact with the media.
If you would like time to think about it, you can always get in touch with us
later. If you tell us you are interested, we will bear you in mind if the
opportunity for an interview with a paper or programme arises. We would
not give out your details before speaking to you first and if you change your
mind, don't worry.
TWO
EXAMPLES OF OUR WORK
Homelessness in rural areas is often a serious problem, especially for young
people. The CAB tries to find long term solutions as well as helping
individuals.
When David had to leave home he could not afford the deposit for a place for
himself, so he became homeless. He went to the CAB, where they had already
seen a number of young people in a similar plight. The CAB decided to help
launch a scheme to provide the deposits needed to secure homes. The
council, local housing association and the MP all worked with the CAB.
David agreed to appear at a press launch to describe his experience of being homeless in the country. By doing this, he increased public interest and
helped to generate funding for the new scheme.
Until recently workers could be dismissed simply for asking for their
statutory rights, for example their wages or paid holiday. The CAB Service
lobbied hard in Parliament for this to change.
Susan came to the CAB because her employer had told her that she was not
entitled to any paid holiday. The CAB was able to tell Susan that, since
November 1999, the majority of employees are entitled to four weeks annual leave
with pay.
The CAB knew of several similar situations where employers did not seem to be
implementing the regulations correctly. The CAB Manager wrote an article
on the subject for the local newspaper and Susan was interviewed by their
reporter. She was pleased to be able to spread the word about the rights
of employees.
ADVICE
THAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE
The CAB often gets publicity in the local paper with stories that encourage
people to use the Service. People who have been to the CAB sometimes like
to help with this publicity.
Peter went along to his CAB to see if he was entitled to a disability benefit.
His adviser pointed out that his deafness had certainly affected his mobility.
For instance, whenever the batteries in Peter's hearing aid failed he lost his
balance (once he was even arrested in the street because he appeared drunk).
The CAB helped Peter with his benefit claim. He offered to talk to the local newspaper about his experience and by doing this he encouraged more deaf people to visit the CAB.
Version: January 2003