Bristol dad completes cycle challenge visiting all of charity’s drop-in locations
- Adviser Ed Phillis has completed his ‘Tour de CAB’ cycle challenge – visiting all of Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire’s drop-in locations on a bike in a single day
- He’s raised £700 and there’s still time for people to sponsor him on Justgiving to support the charity in its vital work
- Ed’s ride was roughly 35 miles long and councillors and staff from town and parish councils came out to cheer him on along the way
A Bristol dad has completed his ‘Tour de CAB’ cycle challenge – riding to all of a South Glos charity’s drop-in locations on his bike in a single day.
Ed Phillis works for Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire and took on the ride to raise awareness and funds for the vital work done by the charity.
Ed set off on his mountain bike from Thornbury Town Hall on 10th September and finished at the charity’s Yate Advice Centre at 3.30pm the same day.
Along the way, he visited each of the 12 locations where the charity runs a free advice drop-in session.
Tour de CAB highlights charity’s drop-ins
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.
Councillors and staff from many of these councils came to cheer Ed on along the way.
Tour de CAB – how it will help our charity
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 has so far raised £700 for the charity and there’s still time for people to sponsor him at: https://www.justgiving.com/page/casg-ed
The independent charity is reliant on donations and grants to keep doing its vital work.
- £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
- Bristol dad completes cycle challenge visiting all of charity’s drop-in locationsEd said: “Luckily, the rain held off, no injuries and no mechanical failures!
“But the real highlight of the ride was meeting so many people at the different Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire outreach sessions across South Gloucestershire.
“It really brought home just how important community centres and village halls are to the communities they serve, and how valued the Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire drop-in sessions are as part of the support offered from these venues.
“South Gloucestershire is such a varied county, encompassing urban, industrial and rural communities, and I was struck by the number of great cycle routes connecting them. It was a brilliant way to see the county while also raising money and awareness for Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire.
“A big thank you to everyone who took the time to chat, to everyone involved in organising the outreach sessions, and to everyone who supported the fundraising. It was a long day in the saddle, but a really worthwhile one.”
Importance of advice sessions
Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire’s CEO Chantal Watts said: “I’d like to say a huge congratulations to Ed on his successful bike ride.
“He’s gone from Thornbury and finished up here in Yate, going to all our outreaches in between. He’s done roughly 35 miles and it’s taken him most of the day.
“To date we’ve raised just over £700 and I can’t stress how important our outreaches are to this organisation.
“It means that people who have travelling disabilities can get here, they can reach advice every single day of the week – and Ed’s journey today has highlighted that.”
Ed stopped 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
For information about the charity’s drop-in locations and times, please go to: https://www.southgloscab.org.uk/get-advice/visit-us/
Published 14/09/26.
