Projects
The LANE END Project:
Buckinghamshire County Council has, as an objective, the improvement of the lives of young people, up to the age of 19, in less privileged areas of the county. The Council has therefore made available funding for a pilot project in Lane End, High Wycombe. It is hoped that, by basing the outreach in the local primary school, the parents of the children attending the school will feel better able to access advice on any issues they may have and that this in turn will benefit their children. We will operate an outreach in the school, providing a dedicated paid adviser for 5 hours a week. If successful the project will be extended to other parts of the county. Currently the project, planned to start in September 2009, is delayed because a separate access to the school building has to be built. This, we hope will be completed either at half term 2009 or in the next holiday period.
The ADDITIONAL HOURS ADVICE (AHA) Project
In order to extend the hours when bureaux are open to clients, the Citizens Advice national organisation has provided additional funding. This has enabled our bureau to enhance its service to Marlow clients, using the Gateway service, and this has proved very effective. We have also been able to provide extended opening hours at the bureau office in Easton Street on Monday up until 7.00pm. This is also proving successful.
The Money Advice Project (MAP)
We are always looking for ways to improve our service to clients and projects such as the above can be invaluable. Such projects do however consume significant resource both in terms of funds and staff and it is necessary always to keep a balance between these and maintaining our core service.