Brief History of Ynys Môn CAB

September 19 1975 - CAB advice provided by a Gwynedd Mobile unit on Fridays at the Holyhead public library car park.



March 1976 - a permanent team of volunteer workers from Holyhead took over from the mobile unit by setting up in the old newspaper storeroom of the public library for four hours every Friday.

Later in 1976 - moved to the Old National School in Church Terrace.



1977 - a successful application was made to become registered with the National Association of Citizen Advice Bureaux.

In those early days enquiries were recorded in a “Day Book”

In the period September 1975 to February 1977 (18 months) there was a total of 503 enquiries with the main issues being `Housing & Property` and `Consumer`.
By the end of 1977 the CAB had a management committee and elected members.

Extract from Organiser`s report March 1979.

“ 1,092 people brought their problems to us. As would be expected the bulk of them came from Holyhead and its immediate surroundings, i.e. Valley and Trearddur Bay. The remainder came from inquirers scattered widely throughout the whole of the island of Anglesey with some from even further afield.”

It appears obvious even then that there was a need to provide a service for the whole population of Anglesey in addition to the people of Holyhead.

By 1979 the Bureau had increased its days of opening to four and the annual report makes an appeal for financial support from the people of Holyhead in order to keep the service operational. There was also a constant search for new premises.

In 1981 the service moved to Locomotive House, Kingsland.
This period of transition notes the continued tremendous backing provided by the hardworking management committee as well as the support provided by solicitors on the legal rota.



Peter Jones was Organiser 1975 - 84

1984 - A new permanent address was found at 6 Victoria Terrace and finance of a more realistic nature was provided by the local authority. A first full time paid Organiser, Fran Targett, was appointed. It was noted that the CAB were, and still are, grateful to the landlord, Mr.D. Cwyfan Hughes for his understanding and cooperation in making No.6 Victoria Terrace such an excellent Bureau premises.





By this time Holyhead was being faced by the serious problems of unemployment, debt and low pay.

1985 began to show an increase in debt Counselling and Benefit Advice and enquiries rose to over 4,000 in that year.

1986 - At the 10th AGM Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos became the first President and was in the chair for the first time.

There was a general awareness of the need to provide a service to clients unable to visit the bureau and to increase hours and days of opening. However, financial constraints and finding sufficient volunteers remains a constant problem. Several unsuccessful attempts were made for Urban Aid funding.

In 1991 a grant was awarded to develop the Money Advice Service. This enabled two part time caseworkers and a clerical assistant to be employed.

April 1992 - An advice service was opened in the then Magistrates Court and Town Council offices in Amlwch. This service started with a one day a week appointment money advice service and has now expanded to a 2 day per week appointment and generalist service. The Magistrates Court has now closed and we continue to work closely with Amlwch Town Council which supports us with use of rooms in the building, provision of heating and lighting, and an annual grant. Their support is much appreciated.

June 1993 - the sad death of the then manager, Sue Kiernan.

October 1993 - Di Bushell appointed as manager.

The problem of funding and financial stability continues to be an issue. The job description of a Bureau Manager has changed. The manager has to deal with securing funding, `selling` the Bureau and dealing with outside agencies whilst the deputy, Vera Roberts, handles the day to day running of the bureau. The ethos has changed in ten years from being totally run by volunteers to having to look at business plans, value for money and service level agreements in order to secure a future for the service. Volunteers are still, however, the backbone of our service and will continue to remain the key element of our advice provision.

1995 - Outreach bureau opened in Llannerchymedd. This venture proved unsuccessful with very low client takeup - probably due to it being open only one day a month. Regretfully, the service closed after some 12 months.

October 1996 - Rural Access Project funding secured from National Lotteries Charities Board. Amlwch opening extended to two days, outreach at Llanfaelog one day and full time Home Visits service with administrative backup. Llanfaelog continues to provide a one day a week service which is well used. The Llanfaelog Community supports this venture with the provision of premises; more local support which is much appreciated.

October 1998 - Llangefni Bureau officially opened by Ieuan Wyn Jones M.P. We have sole use of our premises in Llangefni, with the Bureau having full administration and managerial support. The Rural Access Project is based from the Bureau and there is a generalist and money advice service available.

January 1999 - A new computer network is installed in Holyhead Bureau with the NACAB information system being available in all interview rooms.

1998 - Legal Aid Board funded money advice/ welfare benefits service.
February 1999 - Full Legal Aid franchise the first bureau in North Wales to achieve this status.

October 1999 - a second successful bid to the National Lottery Charities Board has ensured the continuation of our Rural Access Project, together with development of a centralised island wide service telephone unit to be based in the Holyhead Bureau. Infrastructure is in place and we are now in the recruitment phase.

The enquiry rate is currently running at 16,500, raised by some 9,500 client contacts - a significant increase from our first year of operation when we recorded 334 enquiries! Of these approximately one third are concerned with debt and one third with social security benefits.

Present - Our current staff complement comprises 20 fully qualified volunteer advisers, 3 nearly qualified volunteer advisers, 6 trainee volunteer advisers, 6 volunteer administrative workers, 2 volunteer social policy workers and 12 paid staff. With offices in Holyhead and Llangefni together with outreach services in Amlwch and Llanfaelog and the Home Visits service Holyhead and District, CAB is able to provide advice to clients from all over the island and not just to people from the immediate vicinity of Holyhead. Since it serves such a large area it no longer seems appropriate to be named after only one of the towns where there is an office. Hence the change of name to Ynys Môn Citizens Advice Bureau. We are still a charity, but are also a company limited by guarantee and are managed by a Board of Directors, volunteers who represent the community we serve.