Citzen's Advice Bureaux launch Advicehub
The launch of Advicehub at JHC Sawston. Reg Cullum, Chair of Trustees JHC, Cllr Charles Nightingale SCDC, Dr David Livesey Chair of Trustees Cambridge CAB
Advicehub, the Big Lottery Funded initiative led by the four Cambridgeshire Citizen's Advice Bureaus (CABs), has launched its programme to increase people’s access to quality advice services.
By using innovative technology and creating an infrastructure of partnership advice agencies to coordinate activities, share resources and monitor the quality of services, Advicehub will ensure that the client is always placed at the heart of the advice process.
The right advice, at the right time, in the right place
A network of digital access points for free advice is being set up 
at community locations all across Cambridgeshire. Self-help touchscreen kiosks, designed to give people signposted access to specialist local advice organisations, are already in operation at Cambridge CAB (funded by Cambridge City Council), John Huntingdon Charity (funded by South Cambridgeshireshire District Council) in Sawston and the Rosmini Centre Wisbech (funded by the Investing in Community fund of EEDA).
Interviews booked through a central appointments system shared with other advice agencies will allow people to speak to specialist advisers remotely via webcam and Skype phone.
Working with Cambridgeshire Libraries
Advicehubs kiosks will also be set up set up in three Cambridgeshire Libraries - Chatteris, March and Whittlesey. Links and icons to the Advicehub website will also be included on all Cambridgeshire Libraries People's Network computers and Community Access Points.
Training the trainers
In order to ensure a high quality of advice, professionals working in the sector are being offered training and continuing professional development via courses run by Advicehub.
The programme launched in the Spring with a series of workshops on 'The Benefits System Unplugged' delivered by Linda Hutchinson, Manager of Fenland CAB.
Demand was so high for this training that three further courses have been arranged for later in the summer. The second course was delivered in conjunction with Cambridgeshire Trading Standards and gave an overview of recent updates in consumer law. The programme for 2010/11 will be announced in August.
A new building and a high profile supporter
In July, Mervyn King, Governor of the Bank of England, will open a new building in 
Cambridge for the CAB and Advicehub Cambridge.
The building was purchased and refurbished with support from the Futurebuilders fund of The Social Investment Business and will house advice agency tenants and the technological infrastructure needed to support the network of new advice points across the county.
Further information
Anyone interested in finding out more about Advicehub should visit www.advicehub.org or contact Kulbir Singh on 01223 222765 or email kulbir@advicehub.org.
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