Social Partner
Community/Voluntary Representative

Citizens Advice Bureau

As Manager of the advice charity Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB), Joan was elected to the Bridge Partnership as a representative of the Voluntary Sector. Joan is keen to promote the professional service offered by CAB and use her extensive knowledge of the advice sector to enhance the work of The Bridge Partnership and to ensure that the more vulnerable members of the community are represented and that funds are targeted accordingly.

Joan graduated from Queens University Belfast with a BA Honours Degree in Political Science and has spent over ten years in the voluntary sector, working as an Outreach/Tribunal Representative for CAB followed by the post of Development Officer with the Confederation of Community Groups in Newry, moving to managing the NI National Minimum Wage Project in Citizens Advice Regional office before taking up the post of Manager of Banbridge & District CAB in May 2004.

Managing the Bureau has a varied remit, with continuing demands from the public for free, independent information and advice coupled with the complexities of the Social Security system, employment legislation and increasing levels of personal debt. Sourcing funds to ensure appropriate staffing levels continues to pose a challenge. She currently manages four paid staff and two volunteers.

Joan is interested in the development of partnerships between the voluntary, statutory and corporate sectors to ensure greater access to funding sources and the most effective methods of service delivery at point of need. She remains committed to the provision of free, independent, confidential advice across the District and believes the LSP has a significant contribution to make towards the empowerment of local people.

Joan is a Director on the Board of Housing Rights Service Belfast, a Managers’ Representative on Citizens Advice NI Board, Chairperson of Banbridge Community Network and a member of the local Rotary Club.