Sarah CardyMANAGERS at a Trowbridge-based advice service have moved to ease pressure on volunteers, as its workload has doubled in the space of a year.
In April 2003, the West Wiltshire Citizens Advice Bureau was fielding 683 inquiries per month, with 260 people using its drop-in service.
The latest monthly figures showed a dramatic increase on both counts, with 1,466 inquiries and 648 people using the drop-in facility.
This week manager Sarah Cardy announced the drop-in service would be scaled back to help staff keep on top of an ever-growing mountain of work.
More people than ever are using the CAB, with housing, employment and debt inquiries reaching an all-time high.
From next week Wednesday drop-in
hours will be cut by two hours.
From 5-7pm the service will offer appointment slots only. The Thursday open-door service remains unchanged.
Ms Cardy said the pressure on staff was forcing the temporary changes.
"Our staff were not leaving until 9pm at night and as they are volunteers, it is not fair for people to be working those hours," she said.
"It is well beyond the call of duty.
"It is frustrating for staff as they are really feeling the pressure and they
naturally want to help
people.
"Even when we are shut we get people banging on the doors.
"Since Christmas we have attended something like 40 final eviction hearings. There are a lot more cases we are not even touching.
"Debts are on the increase and we are starting to see more mortgage arrears clients coming through."
The CAB has a team of 20 volunteers on the books, but Ms Cardy is appealing for more people to come forward.
Anyone interested in becoming a CAB volunteer should call Kirsty Field on (01225) 781944.
Volunteers are being treated to a barn dance at the Laverton in Westbury tomorrow night to
thank them for their hard work.
The revised drop-in hours are:
Wednesday: 1pm to 5pm
Thursday: 10am to 3.30pm
An appointment-based CAB service could be working in Westbury this summer.
Westbury has been without a dedicated CAB service since its centre closed in 2000.
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