Citizens Advice

Minstead Parish Council supports Citizens Advice New Forest as it is a charity for the whole community.

Information about citizens advice can be found on their website by clicking HERE

The main aims of the organisation are:

We help people find a way forward

We can all face problems that seem complicated or intimidating. At Citizens Advice we believe no one should have to face these problems without good quality, independent advice.

That’s why we’re here: to give people the knowledge and the confidence they need to find their way forward – whoever they are, and whatever their problem.

We give advice to millions of people

Our network of independent charities offers confidential advice online, over the phone, and in person, for free. 

When we say we’re for everyone, we mean it. People rely on us because we’re independent and totally impartial.

We also give advice on consumer rights on our consumer helpline, support witnesses in courts through the Witness Service and give pension guidance to people aged over 50.

We help millions of people every year. In 2018/19, this included:

  • 28,500,000 visits to our website

  • 1,273,000 people helped face to face

  • 867,000 people using our phone service

  • 557,000 people calling our consumer helpline

  • 287,000 people getting help by email or webchat

  • 127,000 witnesses through the Witness Service

We speak up for our clients

No one else sees so many people with so many different kinds of problems, and that gives us a unique insight into the challenges people are facing today.

With the right evidence, we can show big organisations – from companies right up to the government – how they can make things better for people.

We see how problems can be linked. By helping people with the underlying cause of their problems and making sure they don’t get worse, we save the government and public services hundreds of millions of pounds every year.

We also look out for people as the statutory consumer watchdog for the energy and post industries. We show where things are going wrong and how to help make it better for people.

We make a difference

Last year we helped to solve the problems of 7 in 10 of the people who we gave advice to directly.

8 in 10 said that our advice had helped them find a way forward and 9 in 10 would recommend us to a friend.

Our service saves society money. In 2017/18 the advice we delivered directly saved government and public services at least £435 million – that’s almost £2 for every £1 spent on the service.

You can read more about the impact of the Citizens Advice service in our 2017-18 impact report.

CITIZENS ADVICE IN THE NEW FOREST

Citizens Advice in the New Forest has offices in Totton, Lymington, Hythe, Ringwood, Fordingbridge and New Milton.

If you wish to speak to someone you can drop in to one these offices, ring the advice line on 0300 3309 009 or you can get on line help.

Click HERE to look at the New Forest  Citizens Advice website and find out more and also to read the latest Newsletter.