GROWTH FOLLOWS SUCCESS FOR LISKEARD CITIZENS’ ADVICE BUREAU

A community skills project run by East Cornwall’s Citizens’ Advice Bureau has proved so successful that one CAB office has run out of space.

But now, with the help of an Objective One grant of nearly £42,000, Liskeard CAB is to have a 38 square metre extension added to its Duchy House Community Office.

Work on the £86,000 building project – which is also being funded by the CAB and grants from Caradon District Council and the Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) – started in November. The extension should be completed in time to open by the end of March 2003.

John Ede from Caradon CAB explained that the CABs have been taking part in a very successful project – also funded by Objective One – to help provide practical skills training to people in East Cornwall.

He said: “We provide a bridging process between social exclusion and getting back to work. The CABs in Cornwall see around 39,000 people each year, many of whom are socially excluded in one way or another.

“The EPIC One project that we are running provides opportunities for people to come into the CAB offices and train with us. They gain new skills and confidence – as well as helping to help others in their community. We also reach people who would not necessarily start by going back to a school-type environment, giving them an alternative and very practical route towards work and learning.”

Mr Ede added: “The EPIC One project is proving extremely successful – which is why Liskeard CAB has quite simply run out of space. Now, with the help of this Objective One funding, we can expand our offices and help more people to upskill and move on in their lives.”

Carleen Kelemen, Director of the Partnership Office, welcomed the success of Liskeard CAB’s Objective One funded projects, saying “The work of Liskeard CAB in helping people develop their own strengths in order to move on to employment is an important part of the Objective One Programme.”