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Citizens Advice

The Citizens Advice service helps people resolve their legal, money and other problems by providing free, independent and confidential advice, and by influencing policymakers.

Every Citizens Advice Bureau is a registered charity reliant on trained volunteers and funds to provide these vital services for local communities.

Citizens Advice service strategy 2008 - 2011 cover


Response to Queen's speech

Citizens Advice’s Head of Press & Public Affairs, John Ludlow said:

‘We are pleased to see that both the Equality Bill and the Child Poverty Bill are to be carried over into the new session. They contain important protections for vulnerable people, and it is hoped that they will reach the statute book before the Election.   

Of the new measures announced, we warmly welcome the establishment of a Consumer Education Authority contained in the Financial Services Bill. The new Authority will oversee the roll-out of the National Money Guidance Service, which will make general financial advice available to all, free of charge.

We look forward to seeing fuller details of this Bill, which will also include the banning of unsolicited credit card cheques, when it is published shortly.

We also interested in seeing more details of the Social Care Bill, which aims to introduce free domiciliary care for the most needy. We are concerned about how the scheme will be funded, and how it will impact on those who are already being cared for by friends or family’.


Notes to editors:

  1. The Citizens Advice service is a network of independent charities that helps people resolve their money, legal and other problems by providing information and advice and by influencing policymakers.
    For more information in England and Wales www.citizensadvice.org.uk
    For more information and 2008/9 service statistics see Introduction to the service
    For 2008/9 service highlights see the Citizens Advice service impact report
    For 2008/9 social policy campaigning highlights see the Citizens Advice social policy impact report
  2. The advice provided by the Citizens Advice service is free, independent, confidential, and impartial, and available to everyone regardless of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, age or nationality.
  3. Most Citizens Advice service staff are trained volunteers, working at over 3,300 locations across England and Wales.
  4. Citizens Advice Bureaux in England and Wales advised 2 million clients on 6 million problems from April 2008 to March 2009
  5. Advice and information www.adviceguide.org.uk
  6. Volunteer hotline 08451 264264 (local rate)
  7. Citizens Advice Guide to your rights, second edition: January 2008 - over 600 pages of practical, independent CAB advice. An invaluable resource for any bookshelf - available from all good bookshops; price £11.99; ISBN: 9780141034089
  8. Follow Citizens Advice on Twitter: (New window) twitter.com/CitizensAdvice
  9. Subscribe to Citizens Advice press releases via RSS news feed: www.citizensadvice.org.uk/pressoffice