1. West Lothian Citizens Advice Bureau
First Step One Stop

2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

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

8. Contact Details Karen Nailen – Bureau Manager
Almondbank Centre, Craigshill, Livingston, West Lothian, EH54 5EH