DESPITE a shortage of money and staffing which has forced cuts in its service, Christchurch Citizens Advice Bureau has been rated among the best in the country.

The bureau dealt with some 8,000 enquiries last year, handled by a dozen volunteer advisors on a variety of issues including debt, benefits, employment, housing, family and consumer problems.

And in its recent quality of advice audit the advice centre in Sopers Lane achieved a score of 83 per cent, putting it among the top 10 per cent of Citizens Advice Bureaux.

But the result comes against a background of cuts in funding from Christchurch council and other organisations and a shortage of trained volunteer advice workers which has forced the bureau to shed salaried staff and reduce opening hours.

Bureau manager Christine Cook said: "We are very pleased to have achieved an outright pass of 83 per cent in our quality of advice audit in spite of the difficulties with adviser shortages and funding cuts."

In her annual report Mrs Cook said the 20 per cent cut in the expected £45,000 grant from Christchurch council was "a terrible blow" which left the bureau facing a £16,000 deficit.

"Sadly the only place savings could be made was on staff. The knock-on effect of cutting staffing was the inevitable reduction in opening hours," she said.

Since May advice sessions have been cut from seven to five per week including axing the weekly drop-in sessions and there is currently a four-week waiting list for appointments to see an adviser.

The bureau's home visit advice service has also been reduced following the expiry of lottery funding which has been only partially offset by grants from other sources.

First published: August 17, 2005