When people come to us, whoever they are and whatever their problem, we help them. Each year we help more than 171,000 people in communities across Scotland to know their rights and get their lives back on track.
From stopping payday lenders ruining lives to helping people get benefits they are entitled to or get through work or family difficulties, no problem is too big or too small.
MORI research shows one in five people in Scotland visited a local Citizens Advice Bureau in recent years and 98 per cent of clients trust the service and were satisfied with the help we gave them.
We’re cost-effective, with around 75 per cent of the 2,500-strong workforce in our bureaux made up of volunteers.
And we save Scotland money. Independent research shows the work of the Scottish Citizens Advice Service contributes more than £166 million to the common good in Scotland.
Welfare reform, rising energy bills and other increases in the cost of living mean that more and more people need our help. Yet funding for our bureaux is being reduced by the squeeze on sources of income such as local councils.
There are many ways you can help us reach out to more people.
Make a donation
Each Citizens Advice Bureau in Scotland is a registered charity and raises its own funds. Use our bureau finder to get in touch with your local bureau and find out how you can make a donation to them.
Or you could make a donation to Citizens Advice Scotland to help us support bureaux to give quality advice, deliver vital services like the Citizens Advice Consumer Service and carry out campaigning and influencing work so that those in power change things for the better.
Visit our JustGiving page to make a secure donation online, or send a cheque made out to us to Citizens Advice Scotland, 1st Floor, Broadside, 2 Powderhall Road, Edinburgh EH7 4GB.
Give equipment or professional skills
Bureaux also need supplies to help them carry out their work. Whether it’s an offer of computing equipment, chairs for bureau clients or help with professional services like design and printing, we’d love to hear from you.
If you’ve got something you’d like to donate, contact your local bureau to find out if they can make use of it.
Give your time
Volunteers are the lifeblood of our bureau network. More than three quarters of our bureau staff – a total of almost 2,500 people – give their time for free, helping many thousands of people each year.
Volunteering at a Citizens Advice Bureau can be a rewarding experience for anyone. There’s lots that needs doing and there’s bound to be something to suit the skills you can offer. You could also pick up new skills and experience.
Our volunteer advisers all undergo a comprehensive training programme and are provided with ongoing support and guidance. Citizens Advice Scotland also provides training for a range of other volunteer roles, and training which allows generalist advisers to specialise in a particular area such as employment.
There are lots of opportunities to volunteer with us besides advising clients, such as fundraising or administrative work.
If you’d like to lend a hand, we'd love to hear from you.
