Citizens Advice Cornwall is an independent local charity and member of the national Citizens Advice Service.

 

We offer free, independent and confidential advice to everyone to help solve their problems and improve their lives – from energy bills to problems at work and from benefit applications to debt relief and homelessness – we’re here to help regardless of race, class, disability, religion, politics, income or sexual identity.

 

Working with a team of more than a hundred dedicated, passionate and highly trained staff and volunteers, we have offices across the county and outreach sessions from Bude to St Ives. We’re also in foodbanks across Cornwall.

We value diversity, promote equality and challenge discrimination. In addition to advice, we also lobby and campaign for changes to policies and practices that impact on people’s lives, bringing concerns to the attention of local and national government and businesses.

In 2023/24 we helped 8,400 individuals. As part of our advice and guidance we helped people in Cornwall gain £6.5 million in income

 

Citizens Advice was launched in 1939 when war was looming, to meet the needs of the civilian population in wartime, navigating war regulations, helping with rationing rules and helping bombed-out families find shelter.

After the war, funding was cut and the number of bureaux halved. The service in Cornwall continued thanks to charitable trusts and eventually grew to six independent local charities. In 2009, those six independent charities merged to form Citizens Advice Cornwall.

 

Today, Citizens Advice service operates from more than 1,600 locations across England and Wales, run by 360 registered charities, of which CA Cornwall is one. Each local charity is a member of the wider network. The national office in London provides training, IT and operational support and campaigns nationally on important issues.

Our Values

Collaborative

We want to work together with clients, colleagues and partners to achieve the best outcomes.

Accountable

To be responsible for what we do, consistent and follow through on actions we agree to.

Respectful

To be mindful of the feelings, wishes and rights of others, be non-judgemental and open to different viewpoints

Excellent

To aim to be the best we can be providing, high quality, accurate work throughout the organisation