BANKRUPTCY, eviction and homelessness were among cases tackled by a welfare reform charity during a social media campaign highlighting its work.
East Staffordshire Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB), based at Anson Court, off Horninglow Street, Burton, confronted the issues during #CABlive, a four-day Twitter initiative involving 50 other bureaux throughout the country.
CAB chief executive Dawn Green said: “This was a fantastic use of social media and an opportunity to show the wide range of issues we can deal with.”
It was the bureau’s fourth involvement in the campaign, which trended in fifth place on the Twittersphere.
Inquiries highlighted by Emily Sendell, the CAB’s apprentice marketing and promotions assistant, included benefit appeals, medical negligence claims, eviction notices, multiple debts and benefit checks.
A bureau spokesman said: “The campaign showed both the range of issues the public faced and that they could be dealt with locally and free of charge by the CAB.”
Mrs Green has previously told the Mail that it is important for the CAB to ‘share the diversity of problems coming into our bureau and also inform people what they can come to us for’.
She said Twitter was a good way to do this as it was instant.
Mrs Green said #CABlive had also previously highlighted the importance of the CAB’s 70 volunteers while tracking management meetings, volunteer recruitment and publicity.
Last year, the initiative won the ‘best media social policy award at the national CAB’s annual conference in Exeter.
All of the posts from this year’s #CABlive initiative are available to read at www.twitter.com/eaststaffscab
The results of the social media campaign were released as the charity announced details of its next fund-raising effort.
Staff will stage a live music event at 7.30pm on Saturday, March 2, at the new Tower Brewery, off Wetmore Road, in Burton.
A CAB spokesman said: “It is events such as these which the bureau is becoming increasingly more reliant on in order to maintain a high-quality service across the borough.”
The charity’s previous fund-raising initiatives have included a murder mystery evening and a sponsored swim.
Organisers of the Tower Brewery event are appealing for any bands willing to perform at the event to get in touch.
They can register their interest by calling Anna or Emily at the CAB on 01283 566722 or emailing them at eaststaffscab@gmail.com
Tickets are available from the same sources.
