About Us
We help people to resolve their legal, money and other problems by providing free, independent and confidential advice, and by influencing policymakers. We operate from four offices across Waverley – Cranleigh, Farnham, Godalming and Haslemere.
During the Coronavirus crisis we are providing FREE and INDEPENDENT advice by email and phone (contact details). For people in Waverley who do not have access to telephone or email, we are offering our Video Advice Service at our Farnham, Cranleigh, Godalming and Haslemere offices (contact details).
We use the information we gather carrying out this work for our clients to campaign for social justice, so that individuals do not suffer through a lack of knowledge or an inability to express themselves effectively.
As the impact of the Coronavirus crisis continues, we provide an increasingly vital front-line service for those in the greatest need in our local community.
The benefits of our work are not limited to improving our clients’ financial situation but also contribute to improving their health, reducing their stress and improving their confidence in dealing with their own problems.
Citizens Advice Waverley is a member of Citizens Advice Surrey which represents the Citizens Advice service across Surrey.
Our funding
Citizens Advice Waverley is an independent local charity.
We depend on local funding from local authorities, local charitable trusts, local businesses and private donations. Our highly trained volunteer force, who give their free 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.
Who we work with
We are keen to work closely with other organisations wherever this helps us to offer a better service to our clients and to maximise the positive impact we make on people lives.
- Waverley 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
- Local schools and colleges to provide young people with the skills and confidence to manage the new challenges they face as they take on greater financial responsibilities.
Our History
Citizens Advice has provided free, confidential and independent advice for the past 80 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 Waverley since 1939, when Citizens Advice opened one of its very first bureaux in Haslemere. Citizens Advice Waverley was established in 2006 by the merger of the Haslemere bureau with other, newer bureaux in Cranleigh, Farnham and Godalming.
Our statistics in 2018-19
4,332 people helped (
15% of total adult population)
17,931 issues handled
8,000+ visitors to our website
£1.75 million in unclaimed financial entitlements achieved for our clients
£1m of clients’ debt better managed
We advised on 1,300 employment related issues, 1,300 family and relationship issues and 561 consumer issues
167 families saved from homelessness
Our Value to the Community
In 2018/19, for every £1 invested in Citizens Advice Waverley we generated*:
- £22.54 in benefits to individuals – value to our clients Income gained through benefits gained, debts written off and consumer problems resolved. Total: £7,413,337.
- £25.07 in additional public value – wider economic and social benefits Improvements in participation and productivity for clients and volunteers. Total: £8,246,097.
- £4.11 in fiscal benefits savings to government – reduction in health service demand, local authority homelessness services, and out-of-work benefits for clients and volunteers. Total: £1,351,268.
*Calculated using an HM Treasury approved model
Value of Volunteering
We have more than 140 volunteers, including around 80 fully trained and highly skilled volunteers directly providing wide-ranging advice services to local people. They freely donate a total of nearly 60,000 hours of their time each year. This is estimated to be worth well over £1 million annually. Their work is supported, monitored and quality assured by a small team of paid staff.
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 raised individual’s aspirations, encourages community participation and is part of the Government’s “Big Society” vision for strong, active and empowered communities.
Real Life Stories
1. Fighting the Threat of Homelessness – read more
2. Caring for her disabled son – read more
