Friends of Oxford Citizens Advice Bureau

FOCAB seeks to support the activities of the Oxford bureau through social events, fundraising and raising the profile of the work of the bureau within the wider Oxford community. Members are former staff, volunteers and trustees and other wellwishers. 

In 2008 members of the Friends have continued to be generous with their gifts and FOCAB has been able to add tax relief to these donations. The bureau has been undertaking a major fundraising campaign to raise £35,000 for specialist support, training, building improvements and IT equipment. The Friends have appealed to the wider community and their chairman wrote to a large number of supporters. Their response was generous and more than £6,000 was received last year. 

In April 2008 the Friends organized a concert and talk on Paraguayan harp and guitar music at the offices of Blake Lapthorn Tarlo Lyons solicitors, by kind invitation of a member of the bureau management committee and senior partner of the firm, Jeremy Irwin Singer.

Members met in July in the Priory Room at Christ Church for the annual general meeting.  The guest speaker was Ian Bottomley, practice manager of the Luther Street Medical Centre.  The centre pioneered the provision of specialist medical help for the homeless and those in the most insecure accommodation - “sofa-surfers” and others.  Ian outlined some of the issues affecting rough sleepers, many of whom suffer from mental health and alcohol and substance abuse problems as well as physical conditions exacerbated by their lifestyle.  The insight which he provided is very relevant to the bureau which is consulted regularly by homeless clients and those threatened with homelessness.

The talk was followed by a party in the Cathedral garden, with delicious strawberries and cake.

FOCAB chairman Robin Birch, secretary Clem Morrish and treasurer Verena Brink can be contacted via the bureau.