On 13th September 2019 Citizens Advice 1066 is having a double celebration - 80 years of service to the residents of Hastings and Rother and grand opening of its new premises.
On the day trustees, staff and volunteers will be joined by friends, supporters and former volunteers for a birthday party event and to take a tour of the new offices and to see the development of our new public access digital suite for the area.
Amber Rudd, Member of Parliament for Hastings and Rother and representatives of the Hastings Youth Council will be unveiling a plaque (12.20pm) to recognise the change in use of The Magnet Centre as a Citizens Advice Bureau.
Councillor Nigel Sinden, the Hastings Mayor, will be cutting the 80th birthday cake at 2pm.
Amber Rudd MP said, “I am delighted to be invited to join the celebrations of the Citizens Advice Bureau’s 80th year of service to the residents of Hastings and Rother and to the grand opening of these fantastic new premises, complete with the new public access digital suite. The invaluable services provided by the local CAB’s trustees, staff and volunteers make a significant contribution to those in need of face-to-face help, and it is always a great privilege for me to support the CAB in any way that I can.”
Charity chair, Chris Maynard, said: ‘At Citizens Advice 1066, we believe our service is as much needed now as ever before. In times of uncertainty and momentous change we are determined to keep that founding spirit alive. As an independent charity, we are proud to have kept the service going for local people for 80 years. We are a member of the network of Citizens Advice bureaux but rely on local funding and the volunteers who deliver advice, campaign for change and even run our reception.’
Since the very beginning, Citizens Advice has been at the forefront of providing free, confidential, independent advice. We started giving advice here in Hastings and St Leonards on 9 September 1939, less than a week after World War Two started. But these services didn’t wait for people to find them — instead they ventured out into some of the areas worst affected by the Blitz to find those in need. They gave advice to whoever needed it on a range of issues including evacuation, what to do if they’d lost their home and how to get a new ration book.
And while thankfully the nation isn’t experiencing the same immediate physical danger as it was in wartime Britain, we’re still reaching those in need of help 80 years on. We’re still offering face to face advice for anyone who needs it but today we’re increasingly reaching people in new ways too, whether that’s through our website, through chat or over the phone.
We are a local charity. We are always happy for people to join our team of volunteers and are pleased to accept kind donations to help us keep the service going.
Contact
Tracy Dighton, chief officer 07802 724259
