How Can We Help?

The Citizen's Advice Bureau Adviceguide website provides answers to many frequently asked questions. So you may want to look at this first. Our Useful Links page lists a lot of other organisations that may have helpful ideas.

Alternatively, or in addition, you may want to either telephone the bureau or arrange to visit to one of our offices here in South Gloucestershire. You can find out where and how to get advice from us by clicking one of the ‘Advice’ buttons on the right.

This page explains how we work with people.

Most people, whether they visit a bureau in person or contact us by phone, will be offered an initial assessment to clarify what the problem is, find out what you want to do about it, and then to agree with you what the next steps should be. These next steps might include

• websites that offer the information and help you need

• Putting you through to a telephone helpline that can help you

• Giving you leaflets, information or self-help materials, or sending them to you through the post

• Offering to ring you back within the next few days to discuss the problem in more detail

• Giving you an appointment to see an adviser face to face, especially where we need to see paperwork or where it would make communication easier

All the people doing these initial assessments and the advisers that you may see later on are fully trained volunteers who are supported by our experienced paid staff.

If you’re coming to see us, don't forget to bring with you all the letters, bills or statements that you want to ask us about, or if you're phoning us for advice, have them ready. We will need this information to be able to advise you properly. Without it, you may have to come back or ring again and this could delay your getting the advice you need.