By Louise Boswell
How can I help you? Is the question a Citizens Advice Bureau Pakuranga volunteer asks anyone and everyone who gets in touch irrespective of their age, gender or colour.
Forty-five years of voluntary service to the community is a wonderful achievement of which we are very proud. Volunteers at the Bureau may change but the commitment, dedication and spirit of helpfulness remains unchanged.
When CAB Pakuranga came into being in 1977 there were 274 enquiries in the first four weeks itself. The enquiries continue to rise as do the visits to the CAB website.
However, the enquiries remain practically the same:
- “How can I get custody of my children?”
- “My landlord wants to increase the rent two months into the tenancy. Can he do that?”
- “I am being bullied at work, who do I complain to?”
- “Can you organise a food parcel for me?”
- “Which form do I need to fill to sponsor my parents?”
- “The TV stopped working within 10 days of purchasing it and the shop owner doesn’t want to do anything about it. What can I do?”
- “How much time will it take to roast the chicken?”
No enquiry is trivialised and volunteers always strive to give the best possible advice, which is independent, confidential and unbiased. Volunteers have access to a well-researched and up-to-date database.
There are many volunteers at CAB Pakuranga coming in week after week for years and years and yet finding it worth their time. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing a smile on the face of a client who came in stressed and frustrated.
Our ‘brag book’ is evidence of satisfied clients. We do get an occasional ‘difficult client’ who creates a stir but nothing that can’t be handled with a little empathy and tact.
CAB Pakuranga has come a long way since its inception. More ways are always being looked at for helping the community.
Free legal clinics, immigration clinics, counselling services, migrant and youth workshops etc. are constantly being hosted.
Hoping to be around for many more years to come!
- Louise Boswell is the manager at CAB Pakuranga
