THE new financial year started with a bang for the Torridge, North, Mid and West Devon CAB as it received £3,500 from Okehampton Town Council.

Vicki Rowe, the new CEO for the CAB branch, met with Okehampton mayor Cllr Paul Vachon to collect the grant which will contribute towards the running costs of the Okehampton CAB office in the Ockment Centre.

The money will ensure that the volunteer advisers are kept up to date with training. Due to constant government changes to the welfare benefit system along with other areas of law, it is paramount that the volunteers understand these areas in order to give the quality advice that CAB strives for.

TNMWD Citizens Advice has also updated its IT and has expanded its telephone advice system, Adviceline, to ensure better access to their advice if people are unable to get to a local office.

TNMWD CAB has eleven offices across four districts and services around 50% of Devon. In West Devon, offices in Tavistock and Okehampton provide residents with free, impartial and confidential advice on many matters including benefits, debt, employment and housing.

The CAB provides free, impartial and confidential advice to everyone on its rights and responsibilities. It helps with a range of issues including benefits, family problems, employment, housing, immigration, and debt management. The service is based at the Ockment Centre in Okehampton.

You can call Adviceline today on 03444 111 444 for information or to access advice on many subjects including benefits, debt, housing, employment and consumer issues.