West Lothian Citizens Advice Bureau First Step One Stop

Women’s aid/ CAB Project Citizen advice Bureau West Lothian received funding from the Scottish legal Aid Board to work in close partnership with west Lothian Women’s aid to provide tailored money service to individuals, both male and female, who have experienced or are experiencing domestic abuse. The project is running successfully and provided advice since 2013 in West Lothian. This project has been designed to work like this due to the complex nature of the clients problems but also to recognise the vulnerability of the client group as quite often their emotional well-being will mean that they find it difficult to cope.

Women’s aid CAB Project Project Aimed: To provide timely and specialized money advice in order to improve client’s control of their situation To ensure that the clients will receive a holistic money service by working in close collaboration with women’s aid To provide unique advice service to ensure clients remain free from abuse and client’s lives are more stable. To ensure that we assist these clients to deal with their advice and information needs we will give them more stability than should give them courage and strength not to go back to an abusive situation

Women’s aid/ CAB Project What Assistance We can offer? Housing options Debt and money advice Financial Capability Budgeting and money advice Legal and family issues Social security benefit/appeals Tribunal representation

Women’s aid/ CAB Project Referral Criteria Referrals can be made through Citizen Advice Bureau West Lothian and west Lothian Women’s Aid, DASAT GP, Police, Social work ….. Self referral

Women’s aid/ CAB Project Key Stages of the Project Received the referral either from West Lothian women’s aid , CAB or through an individual Appointment with the Client to identify the key areas for advice like debt, housing, relationship, benefits Advice worker’s role will be to provide advice, advocacy and representation service to the clients and they will work with them through the key stages of their life changing events. Importance of clear roles

Women’s aid/ CAB Project The Learning Partnership working Financial capability Training / joint events Barriers Policies Gaps The future Co-location

Contact Details Karen Nailen – Bureau Manager Karen.nailen@CABWestLothian.casonline.org.uk 01506 436132 Almondbank Centre, Craigshill, Livingston, West Lothian, EH54 5EH