Review of the year – our 2024 highlights
It’s nearly the end of the year – so we’ve compiled our highlights and successes of 2024, a busy and fruitful year at Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire.
Once again – more people helped in 2024 than ever before
- We’ve helped 8,026 clients so far this year – once again our busiest year on record, with 26% more clients supported than last year.
- We’ve continued to see many cost-of-living related problems – with around 330 key cost-of-living issues (such as energy debts and food bank support) recorded in February compared to an average of less than 100 prior to the pandemic.
- We were very pleased to yet again achieve the highest scores in the Local Performance and Quality Framework (LPQF) audit overseen by national Citizens Advice.
Growing our team in 2024
- We’re hugely grateful to our eight new Volunteers who have joined us this year – thank you for everything you are doing for the charity and the people of South Gloucestershire.
- We’d also like to say thank you to our four new Staff members who have come on board – on the Help To Claim project (which helps people make a Universal Credit claim for the first time) and the Ingeus-funded project which provides advice to people on probation.
- We’d also like to recognise the dedication of four new Trustees who have joined our Board this year.
Month-by-month: our calendar of 2024
January
We shared the story of how our Adviser Jacky was able to support a vulnerable client who had been “passed around” by other organisations and not got the help she needed.
February
We thanked our Adviser Laura who has been volunteering with us for 20 years as of this year. We celebrated her time with us so far at a social event in Bolero Lounge, Yate.
March
BBC Points West featured a TV report on research by ourselves and our neighbouring local Citizens Advice offices on rising numbers of people who cannot afford the essentials.
April
Our local charity turned 50! We were pleased to be able to share the news with you that we’d reached this milestone on 4th April and we celebrated as a team with a social gathering at Il Gusto d’Italia in Chipping Sodbury.
May
Our runners were thrilled to complete the Bristol 10K. This was our second year of involvement in the event and the team raised £1,700. We’re now looking to book next year’s sponsored challenge event – watch this space!
June
In June our walkers completed both the 47km walk from Wotton-under-Edge to Cirencester and the 25km walk from Sharpness to Gloucester, raising a brilliant £4,800 between them. Well done team!
July
We were very pleased to be able to return to Staple Hill & Mangotsfield with the launch of an open-door advice session at Page Community Association on Fridays from 10am to 12 noon.
August
We were extremely concerned by Islamophobic and racist rioting around England including Bristol. We extended our solidarity with communities affected by the violence.
September
We experienced a surge in interest in Pension Credit following the news of changes to Winter Fuel Payments – and announced a series of free bespoke sessions about the benefit.
October
We threw the invitation out to you to join us as a Volunteer Generalist Adviser this winter. And you still can! It’s a hugely rewarding role and you’ll be part of a great team. Find out more here.
November
We publicised our carbon monoxide project – where you can get a free alarm along with advice about the dangerous gas, dubbed the ‘silent killer‘. Find out more and fill in our form to get a call back here.
December
Our Development Manager Becky began the 12 Dips of Christmas Challenge – taking on 12 cold water swims to raise funds for our charity over the Christmas season. Sponsor her here!
Thank you so much for your support this year – from reading our newsletters to donating to our charity, you are helping us and we appreciate it.
We are proud of what we have achieved this year and believe 2025 will be even better.
Thank you for reading from all of the team at Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire!
