(click to go back to faqs menu)
Citizens Advice Bureau
The citizens advice bureau service no longer runs at Jigsaw due to the funding coming to an end in April 2007. Below is the work that CAB carried out during the 4 years of operation.
For Prisoners
Citizens Advice Bureau areas of work are:
Debt Management which includes:
- Sorting liability for debts
- Negotiating debt
- Dealing with repayment schedules for rent arrears
- Options discussed
- Bankruptcy
- Link and support to families
- Advice on how and where to get further help on release
Legal Issues which includes:
- Finding and maintaining contact with solicitors
- Assistance in writing statements if literacy is an issue
- Chasing up mistake... eg SEU lost files, solicitors/court not forwarded correct release dates
- License recall information made available
- Prison complaints system explained, assistance given if required
Relationship Matters which includes:
- Maintaining contact with families
- Cross referrals
- Parenting and relationship rights
- Assisting one parent families by discussing child care, options and notifying agencies where necessary
Consumer Rights which includes:
- Contacting suppliers of goods not collected
- Canceling goods if appropriate
- Credit agreements
- Advice on statutory rights
Housing Rights which includes:
- Providing packs to clients being released homeless on rights, advice and support available
- Local information for where they may be released and a basic plan of where to go
- Referrals to shelter (Housing service)
- Landlord and Tenant Disputes
- Tenancy Related Issues
Benefits Advice which includes:
- Information on what benefits they should claim on release
- Referrals to Department of Works & Pensions
- Information on secured and unsecured loans
- Mortgage and rent arrears
- Council tax arrears
- HP agreements
For Families/Visitors
Citizens Advice Bureau areas of work are:
Debt Management which includes:
- Sorting liability for debts
- Negotiating debt
- Dealing with repayment schedules for rent arrears
- Options discussed
- Bankruptcy
- Link and support to families
- Advice on how and where to get further help on release
- Work all together if joint debts
- For family debt, referrals where possible
Legal Issues which includes:
- Advising on legal assistance where possible conflict of interests eg confiscation orders
- Working with family in assisting prisoner with legal representation, statements
- Referrals to appropriate agencies
- Prison complaints system explained, assistance given if required
Relationship Matters which includes: - Listening ear service
- Normal CAB service
- Referrals to Jigsaw Visitors’ Centre, Parents of Prisoners (POPs), Counselling, Social Services etc
- Parenting and relationship rights
- Assisting one parent families by discussing child care, options and notifying agencies where necessary
Consumer Rights which includes:
- Consumers rights as normal CAB service
- Housing Rights which includes:
- Normal CAB service and referrals to agencies
- Benefits Advice which includes:
- Normal CAB service and referrals to agencies
For Prison Staff (Uniform & Civilian)
Citizens Advice Bureau areas of work are:
Debt Management which includes:
- Sorting liability for debts
- Negotiating debt
- Dealing with repayment schedules for rent arrears
- Options discussed
- Bankruptcy
- Referrals or information so they can deal with their themselves
Legal Issues which includes: - Normal CAB service
- Relationship Matters which includes:
- Normal CAB service
Consumer Rights which includes:
- Consumer rights and options of normal CAB service
Housing Rights which includes:
- Normal CAB service and referrals to agencies
Benefits Advice which includes:
- Normal CAB service
For Local Community
Citizens Advice Bureau areas of work are:
Debt Management which includes:
- Normal CAB service but refer people to other agencies if possible
- Give information to local organisation about the services that are available
Legal Issues which includes:
- Normal CAB service
- Relationship Matters which includes:
- Normal CAB service
Consumer Rights which includes:
- Consumer rights and options of normal CAB service
- Housing Rights which includes:
- Normal CAB service and referrals to agencies
- Benefits Advice which includes:
- Normal CAB service
(click to go back to faqs menu)
(back to top of page)