Fears that Reading Citizens Advice service could be at risk

The Citizens Advice office in Minster Street is currently closed for new clients, with advice being provided by appointment only.

Concerns about the charity’s future in Reading have been raised as the Citizens Advice in Slough closed in 2017 after Slough Borough Council withdrew funding.

The fear is that the same could happen to Citizens Advice Reading (CAR).

The issue was raised by councillor Anne Thompson (Liberal Democrats, Tilehurst) at a full council meeting on Tuesday, October 18.

Councillor Thompson said: “For over 80 years Citizens Advice Reading has been helping people through a multitude of financial, employment and personal issues.

“They work with some of our most vulnerable residents to help them unpick complex problems, for example with debt, employment or housing worries.

“The provision of advice and support is quite rightly a key part of the Council’s own social inclusion agenda.

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“However, when the recipients of the council’s Closing the Gap funding were announced, CAR wasn’t on the list.

“They have been awarded a second, smaller tranche of funding but this is for specific delivery of debt advice.

“Tilehurst residents who work at CAR tell me that morale is at rock bottom.

“Five years ago Citizens Advice in Slough closed down after they lost essential funding from their local council.

“As families across Reading struggle with the cost of living crisis and turn to Citizens Advice, this vital service is at risk.

“Will the Council pledge to do all they can to ensure that CAR remains able to provide a general service for the people of Reading during this extraordinarily difficult period?”

Citizens Advice in Minster Street, Reading. Credit: James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporting Service

The question was answered by Liz Terry, lead councillor for corporate services and resources.

She explained CAR will received £96,000 per year to provide debt advice services for Reading from November this year.

It also receives £50,000 in council support for the building it occupies.

Cllr Terry (Labour, Coley) stated CAR was outbid by the CommuniCare charity at 233 King’s Road for Closing the Gap funding to alleviate poverty in Reading.

She added: “Councillors and officers are working directly with CAR to understand their current operational challenges and to identify options for supporting their long-term sustainability.

“These discussions are active and continuing but any decisions about the future scope of services offered by CAR will of course need to be made by managers and trustees based on their understanding of the current and future capacity.”

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During the conversation, cllr Harry Kretchmer, (Conservative, Emmer Green) said “As the council’s nominated representative on the trustee board of CAR, staff have told me they are really worried about the impacts of the cuts, both on the service they provide and the vulnerable people they support.

“I hope the new provision will be able to cope with the increasing complexity of cases, and deliver the levels of service that CAR staff provide.”

CAR can be contacted online, advice can be provided by calling 0808 278 7819.

For help with Universal Credit, call 0800 144 8 444, debt advice call 0800 240 4420 and consumer issues call 0808 223 11 33.

CommuniCare can be called on 0118 926 3941.