Citizens Advice Taunton provides free and confidential advice to anyone who needs it. But now we need your help.
As an independent charity we play a vital role in the local community - helping people to improve their own lives and reducing pressure on the district's public services. We rely on the generosity of local people to support our work. Much of our advice is provided by trained and qualified volunteers, and we receive some support towards our running costs from Somerset County Council and Taunton Deane Borough Council.
However, as the need for our service grows, funding is becoming harder to find and we face the prospect of having to close our doors one day a week next year; reducing our drop-in service from five days to four.
Over 6,000 local people benefit from our advice each year, with problems ranging from debt and benefits, to homelessness and employment issues. Most of our clients are on a low income, many have dependent children, and half have a disability or long-term health condition. In 2016 over 200 people we helped we at risk of losing their homes.
Two thirds of clients have their problems resolved thanks to our help, and the advice we give can be life changing.
With your support we will be able to keep our doors open five days a week, ensuring that we are always available to everyone who needs us.
Since 1964 we have offered expert advice to anyone in the Taunton Deane borough who needs it, but inevitably it is people on the fringes of society that use us most. Last year we helped nearly 1,000 people to reduce their expenses or debt, and money is at the root of many of the problems that people come to us about. The core support we provide helps people to:
- Avoid homelessness
- Secure benefits
- Avoid legal action
- Stabilise their financial situation
- Secure employment
- Improve their health and wellbeing
Our Volunteers and Advisers always aim to stop a client's issue escalating, and to help them make better informed decisions in the future. As a member of the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux our comprehensive service is not available anywhere else in the borough, and we make a huge difference to our local society. For every £1 invested in Citizens Advice:
- The government saves £2.66 in health services, local authority homelessness services, and out-of-work benefits
- The wider economy benefits from £15.39 in increased productivity and participation
- Our clients are on average £20.71 better off through benefits, income and written-off debts
Our services are typically delivered through our 1-2-1 drop-in service, and follow-up contact in person, over the telephone or email.