Tour de CAB: Adviser to cycle to all charity’s drop-in locations across South Glos – in a single day
-
- Adviser Ed Phillis will cycle to all the locations of Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire’s drop-ins in a single day on 10th September – starting in Thornbury, going through areas such as Bradley Stoke, Emersons Green and Staple Hill and ending in Yate
-
- He is taking on the 33-mile challenge – dubbed Tour de CAB – to raise funds and awareness for the charity and “highlight just how important these local centres are”
-
- Ed, a dad-of-two from Easton, is a Help To Claim Adviser at the charity and helps people make first-time Universal Credit claims
A Bristol dad is cycling to all of the locations of free advice drop-ins offered by the charity he works for – in a single day.
Ed Phillis will be setting off on his bike from Thornbury Town Hall on 10th September and finishing at Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire’s Advice Centre in Yate later the same day.
Along the way, he will visit each of the 12 locations where the charity runs a free advice drop-in session as part of his “Tour de CAB”.
These drop-in sessions allow members of the public to get much-needed support from the charity without an appointment, in areas including – but not limited to – benefits, debt, housing and cost of living help.
The charity supported more than 7,300 people in 2025-26 and saved clients a combined total of £15 million – the equivalent of more than £2,000 back in the pocket of each person helped.
Drop-ins are an essential part of how the charity works as they allow people to benefit from excellent advice in their local area without having to travel further afield.
The charity is grateful to town and parish councils who fund the charity’s advice sessions across South Gloucestershire.
Ed explains Tour de CAB
Ed is a Help To Claim Adviser – which means he supports people through the process of making a first-time Universal Credit claim.
The dad-of-two who lives in Easton is taking on the 33-mile challenge to raise funds and awareness for Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire.
The independent charity is reliant on donations and grants to keep doing its vital work.
He said: “I think it’s really important, and supports social democracy, that people have access to face-to-face advice in their local community.
“Not everyone wants to deal with everything digitally, and for some people the sheer complexity of dealing with public services can become overwhelming.
“Our local drop-in services provide a vital, human point of contact for people who may have limited digital skills, limited mobility, or other reasons why accessing advice online or travelling further simply isn’t practical.
“I wanted to do something that would raise money for the service I work for, but also highlight just how important these local centres are.
“Cycling between all of South Gloucestershire Citizens Advice’s drop-in centres seemed like a good way of connecting the fundraising with the places and communities that the service actually exists to support.
“And will hopefully help me gain a bit of fitness!”
Drop-in locations
The journey will stop at:
- Thornbury Town Hall
- Bradley Stoke Jubilee Centre
- The Community Centre, Stoke Gifford
- FACE in Filton
- Page Hall in Staple Hill
- Kingsmeadow@MadeForever in Kingswood
- Cadbury Heath Juice Project
- Emersons Green Village Hall
- Lyde Green Community Centre
- Westerleigh Village Hall
- Frampton Cotterell Brockeridge Centre
- and finally Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire’s Advice Centre in Yate
Ed plans to take photos at each stop to document his challenge and people can keep an eye on the charity’s social media channel on the day to see his progress.
Anyone wanting to sponsor Ed can donate at his JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/page/casg-ed
- £5 will pay for a week’s worth of tea, coffee & biscuits for local residents visiting the charity’s warm space.
- £10 will pay for a Volunteer to help a disabled person claim Personal Independence Payment
- £20 will pay for bespoke Energy Advice to a local person in fuel poverty
- £50 will pay for a Specialist Debt caseworker to help someone in debt crisis
For information about the charity’s drop-in locations and times, please go to: https://www.southgloscab.org.uk/get-advice/visit-us/
Published 24/08/26.
