We aim to provide the advice people need for the problems they face and improve the policies and practices that affect people's lives.We provide free, independent, confidential and impartial advice to everyone on their rights and responsibilities.
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An Appeal from Citizens Advice York during a Time of Crisis
I am reaching out to you to request your financial support for Citizens Advice York (CAY). You can do this by becoming a Friend of our charity, making either a one-off or recurring donation.
You may not have realised that CAY is an independent, local charity dependent on fundraising.
We play a vital and irreplaceable role in the life of our city. We help thousands of people a year, including many of the most vulnerable citizens. Our services are provided by a mostly volunteer team of highly trained and experienced advisers.
We offer a general drop-in service at West Offices in the City Centre and also a range of projects at 16 outreach venues across the city, helping specific groups such as Travellers, disabled people, refugees, women who have survived domestic abuse, people forced to use food banks and those who have difficulty getting into the City Centre. Our work in GP surgeries helps people deal with worries that are seriously impacting on their health and so helping the NHS.
We help thousands of people with such issues as crippling debts or to apply for disability benefits. We also operate a free legal advice service, Yorlaw, which gives access to family law services to those who can least afford it.
Last year we supported people in York to claim just under £1,000,000 or previously unclaimed benefits and we wrote off £1,600,000 in debt for people, enabling them to have a fresh financial start and alleviating life impacting stress.
In total we supported 4,500 people to find good outcomes for 14,500 problems they were experiencing.
We experienced a huge increase in demand for our services due to the cost of living crisis, in York we bucked the national trend and by the middle of last year demand for help with issues caused by the cost of living crisis outstripped demand for all other areas of advice. Demand for debt relief orders rose by 261% as people simply could not make ends meet, just under 9000 people tried to access our service last year.
However, the cost of running these professional and vital services is high, and there is a shortfall that we must fundraise to fill each year. Whilst City of York Council remain consistent and generous funders, we still have to raise a substantial amount each and every year to cover the full cost of this important service. We could not operate without the generosity of donations to fill this gap. Parish Councils, York and District Wards the NHS and private companies and individuals help us with this. We are incredibly grateful of support, especially when everyone is feeling the effects of this current cost of living crisis.
We improve and save lives on a daily basis. Help us to help others when they come to us in crisis. Every £1 donated is turned into £10.90 of direct financial support for people in need. We turn a little into a lot for those most in need.
I appeal to you to become a Friend of CAY so that we can continue our work for all the people of York. Your support has never been more valuable or necessary.
Fiona McCulloch, Chief Executive, Citizens Advice York
“Very very helpful service, with helpful and compassionate workers. The service helped me when I was in a very bad place.”