I receive thousands of emails each year from constituents, some wishing to make known their views on Government policy, some wishing to bring my attention to issues being highlighted by a charity or a lobbying organisation, and some asking me for my help in dealing with difficult personal problems.
As a Member of Parliament, I can write to organisations and ask for advice and help in dealing with particularly difficult cases when errors have been made, or misunderstandings have occurred. I can contact Ministers on matters of policy, and I can meet Government Ministers and officials to campaign for funding, advise or assistance for local campaigns which will improve our lives here in Brentwood and Ongar.
I have an excellent team supporting me in my constituency, who help me help many hundreds of constituents each year with difficult, complex and sometimes harrowing problems. However, sometimes casework comes down to making sure an individual is being helped to claim the right benefits, or fill in the correct form with the correct details for housing or social care. Occasionally, legal advice is needed.
It’s at this point I and my team call on the expertise of our local Citizens Advice Bureau, the CAB. Their staff and volunteers have the time and knowledge to sit with people and help them fill in claims for benefits, housing and debt advice line by line, page by page.
It was a great honour to be able to meet many of our local CAB trustees, staff and volunteers last week at the Annual Public Meeting of the Citizens Advice Braintree & South Essex group. I gave a speech, answered some very perceptive questions and handed out multiple awards recognising the excellent work individuals have done to help some of the most vulnerable in our society. Particular congratulations to Dot Avis and Ali Moran for their Long Service Awards!
My thanks to the team for inviting me to take part and for all they do in locally to help those living here with free advice and great care.
