About us

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We are Citizens Advice Havering

We are a local arm of the nationwide Citizens Advice service, a charity established in 1939 during the second World War.

Citizens Advice Havering operates independently. We are governed by a dedicated Board of Trustees and continue the legacy of providing essential advice and information to individuals in need.

At Citizens Advice Havering, our mission is to offer clear and practical guidance on a range of important topics, including benefits, consumer concerns, housing, legal matters, tax, family law, energy suppliers and immigration.

 As a committed local resource, we serve people who live and work in Havering, striving to empower individuals by enhancing their well-being.

Explore our website to discover more about the services we provide and how we can assist you in navigating various aspects of your life.

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In 2022/23

12,501

clients helped

Finding a way forward with

37,958

+

Issues

The Difference we make

Community Benefit

Citizens Advice Havering is a small local charity, making the most of limited resources.

In 2022/23, we were able to assist more Havering residents than the year before, reflecting increased demand: 12,501 clients with 37,958 different issues.

Unsurprisingly benefit queries were at the top of the list, with 11,196 clients needing advice on this issue.  

Using a Treasury approved model, we can calculate the value we provide and savings we make to government and public services.

For every £1 invested in Citizens Advice Havering we generated at least...

£2.06 in savings to government and public services
fiscal benefit
£33.56 in wider economic and social benefits
public value
£30.41 in financial value to the people we help
specific outcomes to individuals

We help people find a way forward

At Citizens Advice Havering we believe no one should have to face these problems without good quality, independent advice. That’s why we’re here: to give people the knowledge and the confidence they need to find their way forward - whoever they are, and whatever their problem.

We give advice to millions of people

We’re part of a network of independent charities that offers confidential advice for free. People rely on us because we’re independent and totally impartial. We also work in partnership with organisations who specialise in advice issues such as homelessness advice, pension guidance for people over 50 and tax advice for people over 60..

We speak up for our clients

No one else sees so many people with so many different kinds of problems, and that gives us a unique insight into the challenges people are facing today. With the right evidence, we can show big organisations – from companies right up to the government – how they can make things better for people. We save the government and public services hundreds of millions of pounds every year.

RESEARCH AND CAMPAIGNS

The Service Aims

Citizens Advice nationally and Citizens Advice Havering locally have two equal aims:-

- To provide the advice people need for the problems they face
- To improve the policies and practices that affect people’s lives

Policy Campaigns in Election Year

In this election year, 2024, the campaigns focus will be on people living with negative budgets concentrating on the following priorities:-

  • The National Red Index – how to turn the tide on falling living standards  
  • Individual Voluntary Arrangements 
  • Universal Credit and Disability Benefits
  • Ending Section 21 evictions and the broken private rented sector
  • Affordability of post and the impact of mail delays
  • Energy affordability and the future of the energy market
  • Social tariffs across sectors and in telecoms

How Data and Insights are used

Citizens Advice Havering holds a huge amount of data and insight about the problems that our clients and their wider communities face and is a vital source of evidence that policies or practices need to be changed.  Nationally, the Citizens Advice Research & Campaigns team uses evidence from local Citizen Advice services to help them prioritise their campaigning activities for the year.  Locally, Citizens Advice Havering adds its voice to national campaigns.

Raising Awareness Campaigns in 2024

Campaigns to raise awareness will take place as follows:-

  • Consumer awareness – 20 May-2 June.  This campaign will aim to support consumers who are looking to buy a used car, or have bought a used car and had issues. 
  • Scams awareness – in the Autumn – date to be confirmed

How the R&C Team Prioritises Campaigns

The national R&C team consider the following questions before prioritising a campaign:-

  • What is the impact on clients and consumers?
  • Is there an opportunity for change?
  • Can Citizens Advice add real value?

The collective Citizens Advice voice is empowering to our clients and supporters – when people’s voices need to be heard, we come together to campaign for change.

Meet the Trustees

Nekita Okafor

Vice-Chair, Trustee Board Research and Campaign sub-committee

Billy Jones

Trustee, safeguarding and information assurance specialist

Some of our Supporters and Sponsors

Citizens Advice Havering is a small local charity, making the most of limited resources. Your support goes a long way to make an impact in the lives of members of our community.

FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN HELP