The independent local advice charity is appealing for help from businesses and the community to enable it to continue supporting people in Exeter with the problems they face. Any donations up to £250 made to a crowdfunding campaign before 14th October 2024 will be matched by Aviva.
It comes as the charity regretfully announces some changes to its service provision as part of a drive to reduce its operating costs.
From October 2024, the number of clients Citizens Advice Exeter can help will be reduced by one third, due to reduced staffing levels. To prioritise its core general advice service, there will a significant reduction in other specialist services.
If alternative sources of funding cannot be secured, the services offered to the community by Citizens Advice Exeter will be impacted further.
Chief executive Sue Julyan said: “In recent months, we have been working hard to reduce our costs, seek alternative sources of funding and review our service model in light of a reduction in our income. We are currently using our reserves to continue providing free and impartial advice services to our community; however, this is not sustainable.
“Regrettably, due to reduced staffing levels, unless we can secure more funding, we will be able to help fewer clients via our drop-in, telephone, debt and benefits tribunal services. We will still prioritise our most vulnerable clients, however further cuts to our services will be necessary unless new funding can be found.
“We are appealing for our community’s help to secure the future of our services, which make a huge difference to the financial and mental wellbeing of many people in Exeter.”
Impact
In 2023/24, Citizens Advice Exeter helped over 6,000 clients with 20,000 issues, including benefits, debt, housing and employment problems.
The charity boosted the local economy by £4 million through income gains for its clients. The value of the time donated by its volunteers totalled over £600,000.
Funding
Exeter City Council awarded a one-off grant of £75,000 to Citizens Advice Exeter for the 2024/25 financial year. The charity previously received £200,000 per year from the local authority under a multi-year contract to deliver a local advice and information service. This contract supported the charity to deliver its core service in conjunction with funding from Devon County Council, other local project partners and grants from successful bids.
Dennis Mardon, chairman of Citizens Advice Exeter, said: “We recognise the financial pressures councils are facing and are grateful to Exeter City Council for investing in the vital service we provide to the people of Exeter over many years.
“We have recently negotiated a reduction in the size of our premises with our city council landlords in order to save on rent and service charges. This has helped to reduce our current budget deficit.
“We continue to have constructive discussions with councillors and officers. However, given the council’s own financial challenges, we are working on the basis that it will be unable to contribute to funding Citizens Advice Exeter’s services in future.
“Despite our best efforts to reduce our costs and find new income, we are facing a substantial budget deficit. Along with the ongoing significant contribution to our core service from Devon County Council, we hope to raise an additional £75,000 to give Citizens Advice Exeter the best possible chance to maintain a viable service.”
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