RESIDENTS in Selby will benefit from a new-style Citizens Advice Bureau thanks to Lottery funding.

The new Selby District Advice & Information Network will be introduced in the next two years, following grants of about £250,000, and will see staff and volunteers better trained in consulting over welfare benefits. Staff will also learn how to train more volunteers and will work more closely with users.

A five-year plan has been drawn up by the CAB for the new service, which will see groups, including drug dependency organisation Compass, housing support and domestic abuse services working together to provide a stronger service for users.

A statement from the CAB said: “This will mean that clients are advised by staff they already know and trust rather than being referred to other agencies.

“We are not intending to replace how other agencies are already training their staff, but hopefully the funding can supplement this to some extent over the next two years which should help us all to cope with the demand on our services.”

The spokeswoman said the new training hoped to develop and maintain the agency, and a new website would also be set up to provide information to the public about the new services available through the Network, with links to partner agencies.

Melanie Davis, strategic manager at the Selby CAB, said: “It’s about us all working together in a better way so it’s not the clients getting moved around unless absolutely necessary.

“If someone goes to Compass and develops a relationship with their own support worker.

“If they have a welfare benefit issue, we now have the money to pay for training for the Compass workers, so rather than referring the user to another organisation, they are able to work with them.”