Donations pour in for the Gazette's Save our CAB campaign (From Gazette Series)

Donations pour in for the Gazette's Save our CAB campaign

5:38pm Tuesday 26th February 2013 in News By Marion Sauvebois

OVERWHELMING community support has given the Gazette’s Save our CAB campaign a major lift-off.

Locals and businesses broke their coin jars and emptied their pockets to try to spare Thornbury’s Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) from impending closure, donating £515 to the appeal in just five days.

Cheques and heart-warming thank-you notes from former customers have poured in to the Gazette offices, putting the CAB in good stead to raise the £12,000 it desperately needs to carry on its work in the town.

The appeal resonated with philanthropists further afield, with a contribution of £50 sent from Kent.

South Gloucestershire CAB chief executive Christine Kenny said locals' response to the campaign had surpassed all expectations.

"We’re quite overwhelmed by the support that local people are giving to the bureau," she said.

"It’s great to hear that people, whether they’ve used the CAB or not, really value the service that we, as citizens, can provide for each other.

"That’s giving us real hope that the CAB service can carry on in Thornbury. There’s still a long way to go, but with the support of the Gazette and our MP, I’m confident that members of the public will help us reach our target and keep the bureau open."

The government’s decision to withdraw all legal aid funding nationwide means the South Gloucestershire-wide CAB will see its budget slashed by £50,000, a sum it had previously tapped into to pay the wages of two supervisors at the Thornbury bureau outlet.

Moved by the organisation’s plight, the charity's Silver Street neighbours Charterbridge Private Financial Planning have gone the extra mile to ensure the organisation secures £12,000 by the end of May and continues to provide a crucial service.

The wealth management company has handed £250 to the volunteers and pledged to contribute £60 to the appeal over the next four months each time one of its clients books a lifestyle financial plan quoting "CAB".

Founder Allan Bullock told the Gazette: "People don't realise the important resource of the CAB and the free debt counselling service they provide until they need it themselves and we are delighted to be making this initial donation in recognition of the excellent work they do, which is so very much needed in the current cycle of the economic recovery," he said.

"We are also hopeful that with our pledge of £60 from each initial consultation fee, we will be able to give even more, and help the CAB reach their target of £12,000 by June 2013."

To develop a lifestyle financial plan with Charterbridge Private Financial Planning and help boost the Save our CAB campaign call the firm on 01454 412222, email reception@mycharterbridge.co.uk or visit its offices at 1 Silver Street.

There are many ways readers can help support the Gazette's Save our CAB campaign.

We are looking for organisations, schools, businesses and individuals to organise fundraising events such as an office bake sale, coffee morning, sponsored walk, pamper evening, or wear your pyjamas at work day. The Gazette will be happy to publicise any event organised as part of the campaign.

Alternatively you can complete the Gazette's Save our CAB campaign coupon and return it with a donation.

We would like to hear from people who have been helped by the CAB.

To share your experience email thornbury@gazetteseries.co.uk or call 01453 540214.