left to right Pat Colton, Area Director, Central Belfast CAB, Mick McAtavey, Chief Officer, Citizens Advice Belfast, Minister for Social Development, Alex Attwood MLA, Gerry Campbell, Chair, Citizens Advice Belfast.
Today Social Development Minister Alex Attwood officially opened the new premises of Central Belfast Citizens Advice Bureau in Howard Street, Belfast. Minister Attwood, who had previously been a volunteer with both the Falls and Shankill offices, recognised the valuable work that CAB staff and volunteers undertake and what that work represents.
Speaking at the event Minister Attwood said: “The newly refurbished offices are a boost for Citizens Advice. CAB is delivering a vital service to the people of Belfast and throughout Northern Ireland. Their support is often a lifeline to those who find themselves in acute difficulty and the highly skilled staff deserve credit for their professional service.’ The Minister went on to say 'That funding for the voluntary and community sector should be ring fenced from the effects of the impending budget cuts in order to protect the most vulnerable and needy within our society here in Northern Ireland.'
Central CAB Staff, left to right: Paula Steele, Philip McGrath, Liz Duncan, Helen Carmichael, Margaret McAleavy, Susan Bustard, Sara Duncan, David Gibson and Bar Students, Siobhan Caslin and Gordon Antony
The new office was made possible through funding of £100,000 from the Department’s Modernisation Fund Capital Programme and the newly refurbished, modern, accessible office now contains a spacious reception area, additional interview rooms and a meeting/training room. The new accommodation also provides corporate support for five other offices across Belfast as well as a frontline city centre advice service.
Minister Attwood with Pat Colton and Margaret Marshall
Pat Colton, Area Director of Central Belfast stated: “It has been a long journey to get to this day and the opening of this office provides a much needed expansion of our services, particularly convenient to those in the central and south areas of the city. The location on the corner of Howard Street and Great Victoria Street is well located to give access through public and private transport and in easy walking distance from inner city areas.’
Minister Attwood Officially opens Central Belfast CAB
Mick McAtavey, Chief Officer for Citizens Advice Belfast, acknowledged the work carried out by CAB advisers on a daily basis and recognised that small differences are achieved every day to the clients who contact CAB stating ‘This service compliments the DSD Advice and Information strategy as well as Belfast City Council’s innovative approach to funding advice services across the city. The creation of a money advice unit funded through DETI also provides an additional and much needed specialist service to the public dealing with the consequences of the recession.'
Gerry Campbell Chair of Citizens Advice Belfast also stated ‘These are exciting and challenging times for the sector and this new bureau is an opportunity to expand this provision of services as a launch pad for success.’
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