What We Do
(See also What we do on the national Citizens Advice service website)
Advice
We offer a free advice service to individuals that live, work or study within the Epsom and Ewell area.
Information & advice is provided on a wide range of topics including:
• Benefits
• Employment
• Money and Credit issues
• Neighbour disputes
• Family & Personal issues
• Housing
• Consumer rights
• Immigration issues.
If needed, we can also offer practical support such as help writing letters, form filling and negotiations with third parties. Advice and support is offered throughout all stages of the Benefits Appeals process, up to and including attending the tribunal itself.
In addition to our core service, we have specialist services for Money & Debt Advice and for Mental Health Outreach
Research & Campaigns
With a wealth of first hand evidence from our clients, we are able to establish the issues of injustice and hardship which affect people’s lives locally and support national campaigns to help raise awareness and lobby government and other regulatory bodies. We work locally in Epsom & Ewell, together with our colleagues across Surrey, and nationally as part of the Citizens Advice network throughout the country, to identify the many incidents of injustice that come to our attention as part of providing advice to clients. In doing this, we always take care to ensure these activities do not jeopardise client confidentiality. See Campaigning for Change and Research and Campaigns news.
Quality Standards
All our advisers (who are primarily volunteers) undergo rigorous evaluation and training before they can advise clients. A volunteer’s advice training typically takes about 18 months to cover the required number of advice subjects.
For debt advice, all our advisers have to study and pass an exam for accreditation by the Money Advice Service. We are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 617602) for the provision of not-for-profit debt advice.
