Appointments for advice from the Citizen’s Advice Bureaux (CAB) will be available in Ross-on-Wye Library on alternate Mondays, beginning on Monday, October 17th.

Dawne Shepherd, the Interim Chief Officer of Herefordshire CAB, told the Ross Gazette that she wanted to emphasise that there are a number of different ways that local people can access their services; they can call, text or email, and one of their volunteers will respond as quickly as they are able to.

If a person then requires it, a face-to-face appointment can then be made. The CAB meetings will be held in a soundproof room in Ross Library, where they will be able to receive private, confidential advice.

Dawne added that when someone makes contact with the volunteers using the text, phone or email service, specialist appointments may be available on certain dates, such as debt management, Macmillan, et cetera, to ensure that the slot is the best possible use of everyone’s time.

The appointments tend to last between 45 minutes and one hour, but there is some flexibility, particularly for the specialist appointments, these may need to last for longer.

The appointments at the CAB deal with all kinds of issues, such as benefits, employment, tenancy problems, the breakdown of relationships and illness.

The return of CAB face-to-face appointments in the town is being funded by Ross-on-Wye Town Council; at the Council’s meeting on Monday, September 12th, members unanimously voted to fund the service.

Dawne said: “The Town Council have been brilliant in supporting the work of the CAB.” She added that the Council had agreed to fund the service until the end of the financial year.

To contact the CAB, call 0344 826 9685. This service is available on Monday and Wednesday, between 10am and 3pm.

Alternatively, you can text the volunteers and they will call you back. Text ROSS + Your Name to 0786 00 77 311, and one of the CAB’s volunteers will call you back during their opening hours.

Or you can email the volunteers: [email protected]. They aim to reply within three to four working days.