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Over 50 MPs pledge their support for the future of the Citizens Advice service

11 November 2011

On Wednesday 9 November, more than 50 MPs pledged their support for the future funding of the Citizens Advice service at an event to re-launch the All Party Parliamentary Group on Citizens Advice. The Group's new Chair, Stephen Lloyd MP, hosted the event held at Parliament.

Citizens Advice Chair, John Gladwin, addressed attendees at the event and called on Parliamentarians attending to commit to the following pledge: "I will do all I can to ensure that the Citizens Advice service has the funding it needs to continue providing vital and high quality advice and advocacy in my local community and across the country."

Every year Citizens Advice Bureaux help over two million clients with over seven million problems, providing support to people who often have nowhere else to turn, from over 3500 community locations across the UK.

Funding cuts pose a significant threat to the Citizens Advice service and bureaux capacity to provide help to those who need it. This financial year Citizens Advice Bureaux in England and Wales have already seen a seven per cent drop in the total number of people they were able to help as a direct result of cuts to funding.

Stephen Lloyd MP said "We have to recognise that the very serious economic difficulties our country now faces pose a serious challenge to the Citizens Advice service. More people need advice than ever before and at the same time national Government and local authorities are having to make tough decisions about public spending that pose a real threat to the Citizens Advice service. I know we all can agree that a really strong Citizens Advice service is absolutely vital for all of our communities."

Parliamentarians from across the political spectrum work closely with the Citizens Advice service both in their local communities and at a national level.

Successive Prime Ministers have expressed their support for the Citizens Advice service. Just last week David Cameron said that the Citizens Advice service does a "fantastic job" and is the charity he works with most closely in his constituency.

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.