Former teachers take up key roles with east and central Sutherland citizen’s advice bureau
Two former teachers have taken the helm at East and Central Sutherland Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB).
Rebecca Machin, who previously taught at Kinlochbervie and Dornoch Academy and has a spell as a head teacher in Lochaber, has been appointed chairperson, while Myra Clark, who taught before managing TYKES (The Young Karers of East Sutherland) for 17 years, has taken up the mantle as treasurer.
Both say they are committed to strengthening the bureau’s work across Sutherland, ensuring people “get the right help, at the right time”.
“It is a huge honour to be taking over as chairperson,” Mrs Machin explained. “I was initially involved with the CAB as a volunteer and was surprised and delighted when the move onto the board was suggested.
“I want to thank my predecessor Ruwan Uduwerage-Perera for his hard work over the last seven years, initially as a board member and then as chair.
“We would also like to thank our longest serving board member Charlotte Gibson who has been on our board for 16 years, but has now decided to step down from her role, as well as thanking all previous board members for their service to the bureau, and extend my thanks to the manager, James Sutherland, and his staff and volunteer teams for their warm welcome and support.”
Mrs Machin described the CAB’s work as “vital”, helping people when they are most vulnerable. “One of our main goals is to ensure that people get the right help, at the right time and all of the help and support they are entitled to,” she said.
In the current financial year, the East and Central Sutherland CAB has already supported nearly 450 clients, handled over 530 cases and achieved almost £700,000 in financial gains for residents.
Mrs Machin added: “What citizen advice bureaus do is ensure that there is money coming into communities – money which can make vital differences to people's standards of living at this incredibly difficult time.
“That money will stay in east and central Sutherland and will make a difference both to individual families but also small businesses.”
She encouraged people to attend the bureau’s open day on November 14, from 9am to 1pm, to learn more about its work and volunteering opportunities.