Citizens Advice Tadley holds community lunch to find ways to better help residents
Representatives from a wide variety of local charitable organisations gathered at a community liaison lunch in Tadley to discuss ways to better help the community.
The event was organised by Citizens Advice Tadley, which also held its AGM before volunteers spoke about their different groups and the work they do within the North Hampshire town.
The lunch was attended by local dignitaries and took place within The Point, a modern community facility which is part of Tadley Community Centre, on Wednesday, November 2.
Mayor of Basingstoke and Deane Paul Miller spoke at the lunch. He said: “Thank you so much to everyone in this room for the time and dedication you give in everything that you do.
“You are the glue that keeps communities going.”
Citizens Advice Tadley chief officer Rachel Campbell delivered the organisation’s annual report at the meeting, and announced that the service had helped 3,677 clients in the past year, a 24 per cent increase on last year.
This increase in clients was likely caused by the cost-of-living crisis.
Newly-appointed trustee at Citizens Advice Tadley Colin Watson said: “We must go to the community and say ‘you are not alone, and we will always strive to find a way forward’.”
Ms Campbell was also “proud” to announce that every £10 invested in Citizens Advice Tadley generated £155 in benefits or income gains for individuals, £65 in savings to the Government by reducing demand on local services, and £389 in public value in wider economic and social benefits.
Citizens Advice Tadley chairman of trustees Tony Downes thanked Tadley Town Council, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council and Greenham Trust for the financial help they give to the organisation.
Representatives from charitable organisations were given time to speak at the meeting, using the platform to request aid from the local community and explain what they do to help.
A representative of Basingstoke NeighbourCare was present and said that the patient transport service had 400 clients in Tadley, but not enough volunteer drivers in the area to get all the clients to their hospital appointments.
Tadley Crosslink also requested more volunteers to help local people with menial tasks such as shopping, walking the dog, and DIY projects.
Online services Tadley Roundabout and the Wellbeing Forum wanted to draw people’s attention to the help they provide over the internet.
Someone from Helping Hands charity shop on Franklin Avenue was also present, and they told those at the lunch about grants it gives out to local charities, clubs and organisations.
Two women who work with Andover Mind told those present about the mental health support they give to those who need it across the county.
A Macmillan Cancer Support representative talked about the work the charity has been doing with Citizens Advice Tadley, and a member of a local GP patient participation group also discussed the benefits of patients discussing their care together.
Basingstoke Foodbank, which has a centre in Tadley, sent a volunteer who talked about how vital the service is during the cost-of-living crisis and how the foodbank is now looking for food that needs less energy to make, saving people money on energy bills.
