Leeds CAB 70th Anniversay

“...what started out as an emergency service in wartime is needed now more than ever as the recession continues to take its toll on people’s lives.” David Harker, Chief Executive, Citizens Advice

Leeds CAB first opened its doors on 25 September 1939, one of the first 200 bureaux opened at the start of the war that helped people to trace missing relatives, to sort out problems with rationing and evacuation, and to help people back on their feet after being bombed out of their homes.

As we celebrate our 70th Anniversary Leeds CAB is helping more people than ever before, as increasing numbers of people turn to us for advice. Debt, benefits and employment problems are on the increase as a result of the recession and in 2008/09 Leeds CAB responded to 20% more enquiries than in the previous year.

To respond to this growing demand we are recruiting increasing numbers of volunteers and have extended opening hours at our City Centre and East Leeds Bureaux. We also aim to significantly increase our telephone service.

We are very grateful to all our funders who have given us great support over the years, particularly Leeds City Council. However, as a charity, we also rely on donations to maintain services. We’re very proud of Leeds CAB’s achievements over the last 70 years and we hope we can continue to rely on the support of local communities for at least another 70 years.

History

Following the outbreak of war on 3rd September 1939 Citizens Advice Bureaux in many towns and cities, including Leeds, opened their doors for the first time. A network of CAB offices was planned before the war as an emergency service to provide clear calm advice about all sorts of practical problems.

In September 1939 the Yorkshire Post announced the opening of Leeds CAB at Blenheim Terrace, Woodhouse Lane. The secretary Mrs Baumgarten said, “Our object is to stretch out a helping hand to those who are worried.”

For many years Leeds CAB occupied premises near the University and the Parish Church, moving to our current location on New York Street in 1975. This move to a City Centre location resulted in a big increase to the number of people accessing the service and the bureau has changed and developed enormously in subsequent years.

Among those changes are the mergers with Pudsey CAB and Otley CAB to build a truly city wide service. More recent years have seen the development of outreach services operating from over 60 locations such as GP surgeries, mental health services, Children’s Centres and schools.

In 1939 the bureau was run entirely by volunteers. In 2009 Leeds CAB employs over 70 people but we still depend on nearly 200 volunteers to help provide advice services, some of whom have worked with us for 20, 30, in some cases 40 years.

Technological change has also played its part in our history and the introduction of electronic information and communication resources has been challenging at times but ultimately helps us to provide better services to clients. We can only dream of what changes the next 70 years could bring...

Articles

Yorkshire Evening Post article on the history of Leeds CAB, to view click here

Events:

Leeds CAB turned 70 in September 2009.


Skydiving...
On the 9th October 2009 one of our advisers threw himself out of a plane - with a parachute! - to raise money for Leeds CAB. To make a donation please click on www.bmycharity.com/davidramsay

Running, biking, canoeing..
On the 21st March 2010 one of our staff undertook the Helly Hansen Adventure Challenge Series to raise funds for Leeds CAB.
For more information click here
To make a donation click here

Swimming...
On Monday 3rd May 2010one of our volunteers will swim the Hellespont from Asia to Europe. Hellespont in the Dardanelles is the strait which connects the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara and divides Europe from Asia. On the 2nd May 1810, the English poet Lord Byron swam the Hellespont, in emulation of the mythical lover Leander. David Bentley hopes to follow in their footsteps on the 200th anniversary of Lord Byron's swim.
For more information and to make a donation click here