The Charnwood Citizens Advice Bureau was established in 1949, the first in Leicestershire. The Bureau has 15 paid staff and over 30 volunteers. An open door policy operates at all the locations where services are provided in Charnwood. Services are available for a total of 36 hours each week.
Communication with clients is conducted through personal and telephone contact. There are public lines for core services at Loughborough and Shepshed and separate lines for the Money Advice Service, which operates the County Debt Line.
The Charnwood Citizens Advice Bureau provides free advice in the following areas, as defined by the Community Legal Services 'Categories of Law' :
- Basic Money Advice
- Clinical Negligence
- Consumer and general contract
- Community Care
- Crime
- Education
- Employment
- Family
- Housing
- Immigration and Nationality
- Mental Health
- Personal Injury
- Public Law
- Welfare Benefits
During 2005/6, the Charnwood Citizens Advice Bureau handled more than 10,000 issues for Clients. The top five problem areas were :
- Debt - 4,625 new problems
- Benefits - 2,407 new problems
- Employment - 1,755 new problems
- Relationships - 971 new problems
- Housing - 879 new problems.
We offer generalist advice through trained and competent volunteer advisers, who have access to comprehensive information systems. Our Volunteers are supported by a team of well qualified supervisory staff.