Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) to open new Nairn base in July
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THE new Nairn Citizens Advice Bureau base in King Street will revolutionise services when it opens in July.
Clients will be able to access computers at a new Community Digital Access (CDA) Hub and Training Room, partly funded by Nairn Rotary Club.
And members of the public, unable to use computers or without internet access, will receive specialist support in making their social security claims online from trained volunteers.
Gill MacLean, CAB Manager in Nairn, said claimants have been faced with moving to digital media to manage and access their social security claims.
"Claimants are expected to manage Universal Credit online and convey information via their online journal. There is a risk of being sanctioned and losing benefits if you are unable to do this.
"Universal Credit payments can go up and down depending on changes to circumstances and you have to be able to upload information to your journal on-line.
"Not everyone can do that and if you have a change in your circumstances you're supposed to report that online."
In just one week, Mrs MacLean said Nairn CAB had provided support for 25 people to apply for the low Income Pandemic payment to ensure money was paid went into their bank account so they could buy food and other necessities rather than it being transferred as a deduction to their council tax account.
"People eligible for help from the Fuel Support Fund also have to make their applications online and we can provide that support too.
"But the new digital resource hub will enable us to provide specialist support to people so they can manage their own accounts and to apply for help they are entitled to including Community Care Grants. If they have a computer they can then do it themselves at home. But if they don't we can reassure them we will have staff here who will help them with free, supported access on a bank of computers with its own hub and server.
"At the moment, at our High Street office we only have one interview room and our computers are connected to our own server which isn't satisfactory.
"The library provides access to computers. And while that is satisfactory for people who know how to manage their accounts, the support we can provide will help those who can’t. So we are not duplicating the library service."
Mrs MacLean said CAB also has an energy adviser to help clients find the best tariff with their existing suppliers.
"Unfortunately, due to the current crisis with gas and electricity customers are unable to easily to switch suppliers and get a better deal. But we can help them find the best tariffs available from their current provider.
"The digital hub will also be a training facility for volunteers and staff of Nairn CAB but also members of the public and those who provide support to more vulnerable people.
"We will have space to offer information sessions about, say, Pension Credit or Attendance Allowance.
"As the digital hub can be self contained, it will be available for other groups to use too."
Mrs MacLean added: "We are grateful to the support of the late Cllr Tom Heggie for his valuable support to CAB and other local (HC) members who supported the project.
"Tom was not only a great supporter of CAB but also of our clients. He made a real difference to people's lives. He was kind and compassionate and didn't judge people. And whenever we had to refer something to him for investigation he ensured that was done."
Highland Council has been censored by the Scottish Public Service Ombudsman for the way it handled the allocation of £198,000 of Scottish Government Town Centre Funding cash to support the new CAB office which is incorporated in a development including a block of 12 flats.
Representatives of the community councils complained that the decision to award the money was taken behind closed doors and other organisations were not given a chance to apply for the funds.
That funding represents 27 per cent of the overall cost of the project.
Funding has also come from Nairn CAB fundraising over 10 years; Citizens Advice Scotland Development Committee; Davidson Trust; World Wide Con and Spar.
Nairn Rotary Club raised £13,000 from a Kiltwalk to mark its 75th anniversary and in total contributed £15,000 towards the project.
CAB is hoping the handover of the premise so will take place in June and to have it operational by July 11.
