About Us
We provide the advice people need for the problems they face, including welfare benefits, housing, relationship, employment, money, legal and other problems by providing free, independent, confidential and impartial advice, and by influencing policymakers.
We use the information we gather carrying out this work to campaign for social justice and improve the policies that affect people’s lives.
We operate from our main office at The Elmbridge Community Hub in Walton and at outreaches at the Hersham, Weybridge and Walton Centres for the Community. We offer advice by drop in, appointments, telephone and email.
As the impact of welfare reform continues to impact on residents, we provide an increasingly vital front-line service for those in the greatest need in our local community.
The benefits of our work contribute to improving our clients’ health & wellbeing, by reducing stress and empowering them to dealing with their own problems.
Citizens Advice Elmbridge (West) is a member of Citizens Advice Surrey which represents the Citizens Advice service across Surrey.
Our funding
Citizens Advice Elmbridge (West) is an independent local charity.
We are funded by Elmbridge Borough Council, with project funding from other statutory bodies, charitable trusts, and private donations. Our highly trained volunteers, who give their time to help local people, enable us to keep our overheads to an absolute minimum.
- Donations help us to continue providing free independent advice and to develop our services in line with local needs
- Donating online is a safe and easy way to help us to keep our vital work going. You can make a donation through Virgin Money Giving.
Who we work with
We value partnership working to ensure we give the best possible service to our clients to maximise the positive impact we make on people lives.
Examples of this include working with:
- Elmbridge Borough Council to ensure that appropriate information and advice is available to local people on a range of issues including debt, benefits entitlements and housing
- Surrey County Council to jointly deliver the Surrey Local Assistance Scheme
- Surrey Police, the Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner & Surrey County Council to support victims of Domestic Abuse
- Local Voluntary and Faith sector organisations.
Our History
Citizens Advice has provided free, confidential and independent advice for the past 70 years. Adapting to the ever changing needs of society has made Citizens Advice the most recognised and trusted provider of information and advice in the country.
As an established part of many local communities we are in almost every town and city in the country. Our service is very well known, with 95% of the public aware of it (MORI 2005).
We have been helping local people in Elmbridge since 1942.
Top 4 Problems 2014/2015
- Welfare Benefits
- Debt & Money Advice
- Relationship Problems including domestic abuse
- Housing
In 2014/2015 Statistics
Nearly 4,000 new clients seen
Over 17,000 issues handled
Over £1.8 million of debt managed
Over £1 million in welfare benefits, charitable and other financial gains achieved for clients
Over £290,000 of debt written-off
152 families saved from homelessness
Our Value to the Community
Every year our 40+ highly-skilled volunteers and their work is estimated to be worth well over £200,000.
We have a positive financial impact locally of over £4 million by:
- helping clients secure financial entitlements
- saving families from homelessness
- rescheduling debt
Value of Volunteering
We have over 40 volunteers in a wide range of roles, including advisers, receptionists, and administrators. All fully trained.
As well as the direct benefits to our clients volunteering helps people to build relationships, networks and bonds of trust. It is widely recognised as having a positive impact on local communities, and is often described as “the glue that holds communities together.” It also raise individuals’ aspirations, encourages community participation and is part of the Government’s “Big Society” vision for strong, active and empowered communities. Volunteering also helps improve self confidence and helps people back into work.
