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Citizens Advice launches foursquare campaign to reveal the hidden stories about where you are right now

19 September 2011

National charity Citizens Advice is today launching a new campaign to show people the stories and statistics behind the places they visit using foursquare. For the first time, Citizens Advice will use the location based social network to tell people the often hidden, human stories behind their foursquare 'check-ins'.

Each year the Citizens Advice service advises over 2.2 million people with 7 million problems, working from over 3,500 community locations across England and Wales. It uses the insight and evidence gathered to campaign for better policies and services. Now, for the first time, Citizens Advice will use a foursquare brand page www.foursquare.com/citizensadvice to match this local knowledge with the places members of the public 'check-in' at.

In an attempt to help the people who usually just pass through the cities they're visiting, the campaign will begin over the next few weeks with tips and insight into the three political party conference host cities and London. Along with 20 tips across London, this weekend's Liberal Democrat Party Conference in Birmingham will see tips added to city centre locations to help delegates explore the human stories behind the city. Similar insights will be added for the Labour and Conservative party conferences in Liverpool and Manchester over the next few weeks.

Gillian Guy, Chief Executive, Citizens Advice, said:

"Thanks to our bureaux network we understand what is going on in communities and foursquare gives us a great opportunity to share our insight.
"Social media has allowed us to talk directly with our volunteers, clients and supporters about the issues that matter to them. Now we're going to be able to tell people about issues they might not know about but are important to the places they visit.
"Opening up the knowledge held by our 26,000 staff and volunteers is important because it will raise awareness among the public of the problems faced by those around them and for anyone faced with a problem they can see that they're not alone and thousands, even millions, of people face the same problems but find help with Citizens Advice."

Citizens Advice

Notes to editors

  1. The Citizens Advice service comprises a network of local bureaux, all of which are independent charities, and national charity Citizens Advice. Together we help people resolve their money, legal and other problems by providing information and advice and by influencing policymakers. For more information in England and Wales see www.citizensadvice.org.uk
  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. For online advice and information see www.adviceguide.org.uk
  3. Citizens Advice Bureaux in England and Wales advised 2.1 million clients on 6.9 million problems from April 2011 to March 2012. For full 2011/2012 service statistics see our quarterly publication Advice trends
  4. Out of 22 national charities, the Citizens Advice service is ranked by the general public as being the most helpful, approachable, professional, informative, effective / cost effective, reputable and accountable (nfpSynergy’s Brand Attributes survey, May 2010).
  5. Most Citizens Advice service staff are trained volunteers, working at around 3,500 service outlets across England and Wales.