More financial capability is the aim of new research from Citizens Advice. Managing money well has never been more challenging – or more important. Advice is everywhere: in banks, online, TV and radio, newspapers and advertisements. What’s often missing is the help people actually need, when they need it. The preventative advice gap from the Citizens Advice research team […]
We’re worrying about the government’s provisional budget settlement for Surrey County Council. It could harm disadvantaged people and voluntary groups such as Citizens Advice. We aren’t alone. Two different voices sounding the same warning: 1 Citizens Advice Newcastle has been told by its council that core funding will be withdrawn completely. If this happens the […]
Plea to MPs to help prevent higher demand and reduced budgets harming voluntary groups and disadvantaged people. The vice-chair of trustees at Citizens Advice Reigate & Banstead has written to local MPs asking them to do whatever possible to persuade the government to raise the provisional budget settlement allocated to Surrey County Council. Richard Hoffman says unless something […]
Columnist shows how advice and support in local courts help reduce homelessness. In today’s Guardian Polly Toynbee describes how Shelter advisers work with people facing court action for rent arrears and eviction*. The debts have various causes including ignorance of entitlement, withdrawal of benefit and a mental health condition. In many cases the court is prepared to […]
It’s been a busy start to 2016. Here’s a taste of what we’ve been up to in January. Citizens Advice R&B January 2016 Read about our work first on Twitter or Facebook where you can keep up to date and join the conversation. We’re really looking forward to seeing you. You can also email us randc@randbdcab.org.uk *****
Reigate & Banstead is seeing an increase in extreme poverty some people will find surprising. In January we have reported: significant growth in street homeless on average 15 clients a week needing access to a food bank highest number of clients needing emergency assistance. Policymakers are on the case. The Welfare Reform Bill before parliament is […]
Across the country Citizens Advice saved local authorities £57m in 2014 by reducing homelessness (see below). At Citizens Advice Reigate & Banstead we value our working relationships with council members and staff to help people in arrears with council tax payment. Our advisers help the two sides agree a realistic repayment plan. That’s a plan that […]
Stereotype conceals genuine poverty and distress. Emergency payments and food banks are now facts of life in Reigate & Banstead. Our experience at Citizens Advice and information from Surrey Local Assistance Scheme (LAS) show not everyone is well-off in our prosperous county – in fact quite the reverse. Every week from October to December 2015 […]
Many claimants are disappearing from the benefits system after being sanctioned, according to a new report co-authored by Frank Field MP, chair of the parliamentary work and pensions committee. The report confirms the relevance of our local campaign on behalf of claimants whose individual circumstances aren’t recognised by the system. In autumn last year we began […]
An unnoticed policy change being considered by the government will undermine effective partnerships between local authorities and debt advice agencies. This outcome would be the opposite of a proposal the government calls Improving efficiency of council tax collection* The Department for Communities and Local Government wants to give councils information allowing them to contact a bill-payer’s employer and enforce a […]