‘Everything else falls apart’. The number grows each quarter. Everyday 170 UK families have to leave their homes. Two stats from ‘Eviction’, a cool radio analysis of the meaning of homelessness in Britain and the US today*. Also chilling. Attitudes to eviction it seems are becoming more matter-of-fact (worse in America but we’re going their way.) At Citizens […]
Never more relevant. Stephen Crabb, secretary of state for work and pensions, starts work this week on the revision of government benefits policy. We hope the DWP team will draw his attention to the new edition of Citizens Advice ‘Advice Trends’. The report that collects and presents the problems brought to Citizens Advice has never been more relevant. Mr Crabb needs the best frontline information about the […]
Problems growing Budget falling We can safely say benefits policy isn’t always in tune with information from those who meet claimants everyday. Changes to disability benefit confirmed in the Budget are expected to mean a reduction of £4.4 billion in personal independence payments in the current parliament (up to 2020). The chancellor introduced the change saying “we will continue […]
Halting the increase. “There but for fortune go you or I”. An old protest song. But even half a heart makes the connection to homelessness in 2016. It’s growing and more people are noticing. Social media are reflecting the anxiety. Housing charities are turning up the volume. Last weekend some of our councillors spent a night […]
Unmet demand is increasing community stress. Housing has always been one of the biggest issues for clients at Citizens Advice Reigate & Banstead. In the past year problems brought to us have gone up by more than 15% on 2014. The main cause is that the number of homes available to people on low or middle […]
Voluntary sector review puts spotlight on impact At Citizens Advice Reigate & Banstead our trained volunteer advisers offer free advice to anyone who needs it. We measure the value in the relief of so many clients who need somewhere to turn. But value is also counted in another currency – social benefit. Whenever Citizens Advice […]
Citizens Advice Reigate & Banstead February 2016. What we’ve been up to. Community liaison Surrey Armed Forces Community Covenant Building awareness Meeting Point Tadworth Justice needs a home Confirmation Redhill and Reigate courts will close Surrey CC budget settlement Our vice-chair of trustees makes a point PIP – new online help Step-by-step guide to making […]
Citizens Advice Reigate & Banstead has hosted colleagues from nine CA offices in Surrey at a meeting on policy research and campaigns. Not everyone knows Citizens Advice does this work as well as providing the best (and best-known) advice service in the country. The purpose is to use our advisers’ wide experience of people’s problems to help councils, businesses and other […]
National group expects action to fill the gap when courts close. Last week’s government decision to close 86 courts in locations across the country has provoked a strong response from Citizens Advice at national and local level. In a statement national Citizens Advice called for use of technology such as video links to ensure people have […]
From January 2017 there will be no local court service in Reigate & Banstead. Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service yesterday confirmed the closure of Redhill Magistrates’ Court and Family Court and Reigate County Court and Family Court. In a parliamentary statement justice minister Shailesh Vara explained the government’s commitment to a modern courts estate in […]