CAB advice officers' long service awards
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East and Central Sutherland Citizens Advice Bureau (ECSCAB) has recognised two of its most dedicated and hard working officers.
Client access officer James Sutherland and welfare rights officer Shirley McHardy were presented with long service awards by ECSCAB chairman Michael Small at a ceremony last Thursday.
Tribute was paid to the input to the service the two had made over the years.
ECSCAB manager Rachel Sutherland said: “Last November, the bureau was accredited to type three of the Scottish National Standards for information and advice providers in welfare benefits and money and debt.
“This was down to the hard work of the whole team here at the bureau, but particularly to James and Shirley’s work in the welfare rights team.”
Ms Sutherland added: “In the lead-up to this awards ceremony, we wondered how many clients James and Shirley had helped during their time at the bureau.
“Although not able to pull together the figure for every year, in the last two and a half years, more than 770 individuals and families have received help and advice from them..
“On behalf of everyone here at the bureau, and the many clients helped over the years, we’d like to say a huge thank you to James and Shirley and here’s to many more years ahead.”
Mr Sutherland joined what was then the East Sutherland Advisory Service 12 years ago as a volunteer generalist adviser.
He then moved to the organisation’s welfare rights team serving as a client access officer.
His duties are to support vulnerable clients who face barriers in accessing the service without additional support.
Mrs McHardy joined the team 11 years ago as a welfare rights officer. At that time the bureau was based at Olsen House on Golspie’s Main Street - it is now in the former CASE offices on Station Road.
Mrs McHardy supports people to apply for benefits and her work takes her across the county.
Over the years of service, both Mr Sutherland and Mrs McHardy have seen massive changes in the service.
When they both started, enquiries were mostly recorded on paper and came in by phone but are now computerised with queries emailed through.
But both officers say that the biggest change is the demand on the service with more complicated enquiries coming through the door than in previous years.
The bureau is always looking to expand its team of staff and volunteers and asks anyone interested in finding out more about a career in advice giving, to get in touch.
