Mayor endorses CAEE as the charity calls for volunteers to boost face to face service
As Citizens Advice Epsom & Ewell (CAEE) publishes its Annual Report 2022/23 today, Epsom & Ewell Mayor Cllr Rob Geleit expressed his support for the charity, having chosen it as one of his charities of the year. He said: “CAEE wants and needs to be here for another 85 years and this year I want to do my part in helping that to happen. I have chosen this charity as I greatly support the work that it does and the outcomes that it achieves for local people.”
The Mayor chaired CAEE’s Annual General Meeting on 19 September where staff, volunteers, funders , partners and local supporters gathered to celebrate the achievements over the last year. In 2022/23, CAEE helped 2,660 people in the borough, addressing 8,256 issues and gained £1,008,032 of income for their clients. Top issues addressed were benefits and tax, debt, housing, relationships and family, and charitable support.
CEO Lisa Davis, calls for more volunteers to help boost its face to face and outreach service.
Lisa said: “A key unique selling point for us is our face to face and outreach services and our aim this year is to extend this part of our offering. Our focus going forward is the recruitment and retention of a diverse group of volunteers to help that happen.”
“Currently, the people of Epsom and Ewell can access CAEE services by phone and email, and drop in to the office in Epsom on a Tuesday or Thursday. Increasing our capacity and extending this to three days a week would greatly help those in the borough who are affected by the rising costs of living, are vulnerable and often have nowhere to turn,” said Lisa.
In addition to the mental health outreach service for those clients in receipt of secondary mental health care, CAEE also provides outreach at the Epsom Refugee Hub, Methodist Church’s Warm Hub last winter and has recently started at the Epsom Pantry for its members.
Sue, who’s been volunteering with Citizens Advice in the local community for over 25 years in various roles, says: “I enjoy the comradeship, which because of the nature of the volunteers, creates a better than average office environment. I like the brainstorming nature of giving advice – seeing how one thing affects another. Our work provides a window into part of our community which is hidden to a lot of people living in what appears to be an affluent area.”
Volunteering for CAEE is a rewarding experience with many having helped their community for several years. For those interested in learning more, get in touch with CAEE to talk to a volunteer or read more on the website.
Ends
Media enquiries: please contact Louise Curd, Publicity and Fundraising Manager, Citizens Advice Epsom & Ewell, email: publicity@caee.org.uk tel: 01372 300778
For information and advice, contact Citizens Advice Epsom & Ewell on Freephone 0808 278 7963 or visit https://www.caee.org.uk
We give people the knowledge and confidence they need to find their way forward – whoever they are, and whatever their problem.
Notes to editors:
- Photo of Yvette Ball (Chair of Trustees of CAEE), Epsom & Ewell Mayor Cllr Rob Geleit, Lisa Davis (CEO of CAEE)
- Annual Report available via CAEE website.
- Citizens Advice is made up of the national charity Citizens Advice; the network of independent local Citizens Advice charities across England and Wales; the Citizens Advice consumer service; and the Witness Service.
- Citizens Advice Epsom & Ewell (CAEE) is a small, local charity offering free advice and information for all who live, work and study in the borough of Epsom & Ewell. All advice is free, confidential, impartial and independent.
- Each year CAEE helps around 3,000 clients with issues such as benefits, housing, debt, fuel poverty, family issues and much more. Our outcomes are extremely positive not only for the clients we serve, but also for the wider community. During 2022/23 we secured .income in excess of £1,000,000 for our clients. Our added value to society totalled £1.2m in fiscal benefits by reducing health service demand and maintaining employment and housing. The wider economic and social benefit of our work during 2022/23 totalled almost £8.4m.
- As a small charity we are responsible for raising our funds. It costs, on average, £100 for each client that we help. To make a donation please visit www.caee.org.uk/donate/ – £10 per month could enable us to help another client this year.
- To get advice please use our Freephone adviceline 0808 278 7963 or visit our website where you can get advice by email and find details of our drop in service.