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A shortage of volunteers has prompted the Wellsford Warkworth Citizen Advice Bureau (CAB) to temporarily reduce its service in Warkworth.
CAB has been running a satellite service every Wednesday and Friday, based at the Auckland Council office in Baxter Street.
However, this has been cut back to Wednesdays only until further notice.
Manager Janny Chandra-Baker says the service currently has 26 volunteers but ideally, needs between 30 and 35.
She says it is important for volunteers to understand that they are required to work at the main office in Wellsford, as well as Warkworth.
“Wellsford has the full range of resources and receives the most enquiries,” Janny says. “It’s also where we hold the monthly learning and development programmes.”
Walk-in enquiries at Warkworth have been low – about four a month compared to more than 100 in Wellsford.
“It’s a little bit of a ‘chicken and egg’ scenario though. The shorter the hours, the fewer enquiries we’ll receive because people don’t have problems just on Wednesdays and Fridays.”
Phone enquiries make up the bulk of CAB work and increasingly, people are accessing information online.
Volunteers are required to complete a CAB induction, which includes a police check and training, and must be prepared to volunteer for two-and-a-half hours a week. They are mentored by an experienced service officer for several months.
Info: Phone 423 7333 or 0800 367 222; Cab.wells@xtra.co.nz
