Citizens Advice
What we do
The Citizens Advice service provides free, confidential and impartial advice to help people resolve their problems. As the UK's largest advice provider we are equipped to deal with any issue, from anyone, spanning debt and employment to housing and immigration plus everything in between.
During 2009/10 we helped 2.1 million people with 7.1 million problems. But we're not just here for times of crisis - we also use clients' stories anonymously to campaign for policy changes that benefit the population as a whole.
How we're structured behind the scenes
There are 394 Citizens Advice Bureaux across England and Wales, all of which are registered charities. Citizens Advice itself is also a registered charity, as well as being the membership organisation for bureaux. Together we make up the Citizens Advice service. Of the 28,500 people who work for the service, 21,500 of them are volunteers and 7,000 are paid staff. (Figures correct at 1 April 2010.)
Through the training, information systems and operational support it provides, Citizens Advice equips bureaux to deliver the highest quality advice to their local residents. In turn, client evidence submitted by bureaux alerts Citizens Advice to widespread problems that require action at a national level.
How the public knows us
The Citizens Advice service offers information and advice through face-to-face, phone and email services, and online via Adviceguide.org.uk. Between them, Citizens Advice Bureaux make face-to-face advice available from over 3,500 locations including high streets, community centres, doctors' surgeries, courts and prisons.
For online advice and bureau opening times -
www.adviceguide.org.uk
For more general information about the Citizens Advice service, including volunteering and our campaigns - www.citizensadvice.org.uk
