Local Citizens Advice Bureau in "Edenbridge & Westerham" are pleading for volunteers to assist them as the recession deepens creating a mass influx of people trying to cope with the increasing problems that are facing them.
The regular C.A.B. assistants in both towns are under increasing pressure as the deepening recession bites further into the pockets of people desperate to find an answer in coping with the ongoing anxiety of mortgage repayments, loss of jobs, redundancy, relationship problems, coupled with severe financial difficulties and debts.

Just after Christmas the situation for the C.A.B. was beyond coping with as the Manager Mrs Jill Eyre confirmed that there was an influx of those very concerned with the ever-growing crisis that was affecting them, and the New Year brought in even more very concerned local residents under severe pressures.
Despite the C.A.B. having an open door to all who are experiencing problems, the phone lines were also extremely busy ringing non-stop, as appointments were being made via the phone lines to resolve the massive demand for those experiencing severe problems, thus adding extra stress on the volunteers themselves.

The C.A.B. volunteers facing this are asking for more help as the demand for resolving the ongoing problems with many visiting their offices grows, and they are finding an increase of more complicated enquiries that take time to explain and resolve than ever before. Coupled with this is the fact that the C.A.B volunteers are always endeavouring to maintain a greater degree of service in each case they are dealing with especially to those affected by this serious recession.

The problems encountered by the C.A.B staff is becoming slightly overwhelming and these volunteers are now under extreme pressure and are hoping that more people will come forward and assist in the excellent work that they provide for all people in dire situations, but considering the pressure they are under they are coping excellently with all those who need help.

Many reputable businessmen in the area also voiced their opinion as did Mrs Jill Eyre at Edenbridge, by indicating strongly that it is early days as yet but the situation could very well worsen. She also stated that the spin-off from this recession has a long term effect considering how people unable to cope financially, have to not only try and find work but try to live on the benefits that the Government provide, which is in itself is quite a long procedure of form filling and waiting for the results. They all realise that the uncertainty in the coming months is a threat to many local residents fearful of what may happen especially in the job sector, where their own livelihood and that of their families could be at stake.

No one is certain how this is going to turn out and people need to try and prepare for the difficult period ahead which hopefully will not impose a greater anxiety to those already under pressure at this time.

Whatever situation develops we will all have to wait and see, but this will certainly add a further increase in those numbers of people who need to desperately find answers to their problems from their local C.A.B. volunteers, who themselves will find greater stress if the problems due to staff shortages are not soon filled by those who can spare some of their time to assist the already pressured staff in their demanding role as valuable members of their local communities.