However, all Local Citizens Advice face a challenge because our funding is unable to keep pace with the demands for our services. Like any charity, particularly in these current difficult economic times we greatly appreciate the support and generosity of members of the public.
We rely on grants and donations to maintain our core activity and implement new projects. Funding is used to enable the bureau to deliver the kind of modern service needed today.
Our service is free and our clients are not under any obligation to make a donation. It is an efficient and cost effective service, vital to the community.
Our survival depends on our ability to attract funds to train more volunteers (90% of our staff) and to ensure for instance that our IT and telephone equipment adequately supports the needs of the bureau.
We are able to help our clients to resolve many of their day to day problems, be it housing, employment, relationships, debt or benefits. Last year we were able to obtain £2.2 million for our clients in unclaimed benefits, tax rebates, unpaid wages etc. This is money that is put back into our community.