Watford Citizens Advice Bureau praised in national audit

9:00am Sunday 10th February 2013 in News Photograph of the Author By Adam Binnie, Senior Reporter

The Watford branch of the Citizens Advice Bureau has been rated as one of the best in the country, despite handling twice as many calls last year.

The CAB was audited by the organisation’s London headquarters and received a mark of 92 per cent.

The test scrutinises the quality of service and the advice given in each area of the country, and revealed that the Watford branch had “little to improve upon”.

Figures from Watford CAB’s annual report show that it dealt with 4,500 clients in 2012, an increase of 107 per cent from 2011.

Bureau manager, Caron Williams, said: “I’m over the moon at the award, it is a tribute to all the hard work carried out by the staff and the dozens of volunteer advisors.”

The award was also praised by Watford Mayor, Dorothy Thornhill, who said: “This is excellent news for everyone involved with the CAB. 

“You all work really hard and provide an invaluable service to the people of Watford, helping them through what can be very difficult times. 

“I’m pleased your dedication to your work has been acknowledged and that we can say Watford’s CAB is one of the best in the country.  Well done to everyone.”

Comments(23)

Mohandas says...
11:55am Sun 10 Feb 13

Well done to all the team. Your services are invaluable at a time when so many are feeling sustained pressure on so many fronts.

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LSC says...
12:23pm Sun 10 Feb 13

I used to defend Mrs Thornhill because a lot of people seemed to have a go at her for no reason. But what the Dickens has she got to do with this story?
You might as well have quoted Fred the gasman from Oxhey for all the relevance it has.

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Hornets number 12 fan says...
12:30pm Sun 10 Feb 13

Dotty the bandwagon jumper!

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clarkie750 says...
2:30pm Sun 10 Feb 13

As almost all of the CAB's funding comes from Watford Council she has a great interest.

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LSC says...
7:59pm Sun 10 Feb 13

clarkie750 wrote:
As almost all of the CAB's funding comes from Watford Council she has a great interest.
Really? Tell me more. Are there some areas in the country without a CAB because the local council won't fund it?
If so, that is a scandal! I thought it was a national scheme available to all.

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John Dowdle says...
2:35am Mon 11 Feb 13

I am not certain if there are areas in the country without CABs but - as this report makes clear - some can be of variable standards.
I believe the building housing the CAB is provided by Watford Council and they also receive some or all of their funding from Watford Council.
As a former member of the Watford CAB Management Committee, I join in the congratulations being extended on their excellent rating.
I hope now that people who know of other people needing debt advice or similar assistance will stop sending them along to amateur advice groups like Soul Survivor and instead send them to places of excellence like the Watford CAB.

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clarkie750 says...
8:30am Mon 11 Feb 13

John Dowdle is quite right. The offices they use are provided by the council and the bulk of their other funding also comes from Watford Council.
It is a national organisation. My guess is that most of the others are funded by councils but I don't know that for sure.

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LSC says...
11:04am Mon 11 Feb 13

Sounds rather a hap-hazzard way to run a national organisation to me.
Of course, I was not questioning their excellent work, and well done on the award.

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garston tony says...
11:52am Mon 11 Feb 13

Wether you like it or not, I don’t, Dotty is the mayor of this town and the CAB helps a significant amount of people in this town so she has every right to comment on what this story even without taking into account what support the council may or may not give them

It’s a shame there is a need for the CAB, its also a shame that their 'business' doubled last year, but a hearty well done to all those involved on providing a wonderful service to those in need in your and our community.

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MarsLander says...
3:37pm Mon 11 Feb 13

Clarkie,

where have you been?

I haven't seen you contribute since you were outed as Dotty's husband.

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MarsLander says...
3:38pm Mon 11 Feb 13

Are you Dotty's husband? A simple yes or no will do.

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clarkie750 says...
11:55am Tue 12 Feb 13

Have you really been to Mars or just act like you're from another planet? A simple yes or no will do.

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MarsLander says...
12:24pm Tue 12 Feb 13

clarkie750 wrote:
Have you really been to Mars or just act like you're from another planet? A simple yes or no will do.
I have been to Mars (Slough factory).

Now Clarkie, your turn to answer a simple question. Are you Dotty's husband? A simple yes or no will do.

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clarkie750 says...
5:37pm Tue 12 Feb 13

How did you land there? You being from another planet is still the most likely explanation for your posts.

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LSC says...
5:47pm Tue 12 Feb 13

clarkie750 wrote:
How did you land there? You being from another planet is still the most likely explanation for your posts.
Speaking as someone who doesn't really care either way, you do seem to be avoiding a very straightforward question.

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MarsLander says...
9:07am Wed 13 Feb 13

clarkie750 wrote:
How did you land there? You being from another planet is still the most likely explanation for your posts.
Was that meant to be clever and/or witty whilst avoiding a simple question outing you as Cllr Sharpe, husband of dotty Dot Thornhill, aka the Mad Mayor?

Is being witless, and unfunny even more proof you are councillor Sharpe? Readers will decide

I have seen previous posts where you indicate you are a councillor. In my book that makes you a coward.

Pretending to be a normal resident of Watford when in fact you are a councillor. Coward Clarkie, a councillor without the courage to put his own name to his postings.

Shameful, or at least it would be if you weren't a Lib-Dem where such behaviour is pretty much "normal".

Watford needs better

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clarkie750 says...
12:13pm Wed 13 Feb 13

Well MarsLander you are hiding behind a pseudonym. You tell me who you are and I will answer your question.

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MarsLander says...
12:26pm Wed 13 Feb 13

I am not a councillor.

If I were a councillor I would not hide my identity.

I already know who you are, I just wanted you to confirm it so that other readers are not taken in by you.

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clarkie750 says...
5:13pm Wed 13 Feb 13

Peculiar line of reasoning.
Why won't you say who you are.
It's obvious you don't know who I am. I have never said I am a councillor. Anything I write about is in the public domain

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MarsLander says...
5:57pm Wed 13 Feb 13

Clarkie,

are you saying you are not a councillor?

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clarkie750 says...
9:50pm Wed 13 Feb 13

I'm not saying anything about who I am, but I will answer your question if you say who you are.

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MarsLander says...
10:08pm Wed 13 Feb 13

I have the advantage on you there. I know who I am and who you are.

I just think councillors should not post anonymously, it seems downright dishonest.

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clarkie750 says...
12:36pm Fri 15 Feb 13

What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.

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