Citizens Advice Bristol

Overview

Bristol Citizens Advice Bureau is an independent charity that provides free, impartial advice and information on a range of issues. We can help with most everyday problems from employment to housing and debt.

Before using our service we would encourage you to visit our national website www.adviceguide.org.uk , where you will find information about all the main areas of advice including: Benefits, Debt, Housing, Employment, Consumer, Family, etc.

What we do

Our specially trained employees and volunteers provide high quality advice to people in Bristol.

We have a number of projects and services including:

Online Advice - www.adviceguide.org.uk

Telephone Service - Monday - Friday 10am - 1pm - 08444 994718

Macmillan Project - Benefits Advice for clients diagnosed with cancer.

The service extends to family and carers of people affected by cancer and can help clients with benefit entitlement, filling in forms, appealing benefit award decisions and charitable grants.

Face-to-face - Debt advice for clients on low incomes

Royal British Legion - Benefit and Debt advice for Service and ex-Service personnel and their families.

Any member of the armed forces, ex-forces or their dependants is eligible for this service. The qualifying person must have received 7 days pay to be eligible.

Other groups who are eligible include:

• Territorial Army
• Voluntary Aid Societies who has served full time and in uniform in direct support of the UK Armed Forces Reservists or Auxiliary Forces e.g. TA and many others
• Merchant Navy- Providing the applicant supported the Armed Forces in hostile waters such as Dunkirk evacuation, Palestine 1945-1948, Falkland Islands and other conflicts
• Member of the Home Guard for at least 6 months
• National Service

Southmead  - Drop-in advice service at Southmead Community Centre

GP Outreach - Benefits advice at Charlotte Keel, William Budd and Hartcliffe Health Centres

Good Tenants Scheme  - housing and money advice to prevent homelessness.

Bristol Citizens Advice Bureau is providing a dedicated new service aimed at helping people deal with problems affecting their tenancy.

How we can help you:

• Provide a full range of housing advice, including housing rights, homelessness, possession and disrepair
• Assist in disputes with landlords over repairs with Environmental Health
• Help you sort out your bills, order your debts and organise your money
• Check for benefits and grants to raise your income, and help you claim them
• Help homeowners in mortgage arrears and struggling to make payments
• Refer you to one to one support
• Assist you in opening an account with Bristol Credit Union

St. Monica Trust - Welfare benefits advice to St Monica Trust residents.

Bristol CAB provides a Welfare Rights caseworker to give Welfare Benefits advice to residents and their relations at the St Monica Trust sites at:

• Cote lane
• Westbury Fields
• Monica Wills House
• Sandford Station

Immigration Drop-In - Albany Solicitors provide free immigration advice at the Bristol Advice Point 

Where we do it

Southmead Drop In - The Southmead Community Centre can be accessed via the bus services 20, 54, 75 and 76.

Bristol Advice Point: 1 Quay Street Bristol

Advice in GP Surgeries:

Charlotte Keel Health Centre

Seymour Road, Easton

Bristol, BS5 0UA

Appointment only service - Telephone 0117 902 7135

William Budd Health Centre

Knowle

Bristol, BS4 1WH

Wednesday:  Drop-in 10:00am till 12:00

Hartcliffe Health Centre

Hartcliffe

Bristol, BS13 0JP

Tuesday:  Drop-in 9.30am till 12:00

Wednesday: 2pm to 4:30pm

Macmillan Project: The service is available in seven outreach locations across the city including:

• Frenchay Hospital
• Bristol Haematology and Oncology Centre
• Southmead Hospital.

Good Tenant: Please note if you are not being evicted within the next 14 days, do not have mortgage or rent arrears of more than 8 weeks but you like to discuss your housing options, you can;

1. attend our drop-in service  (Monday to Friday 9.30 a.m. – 12.30 p.m.) -  Bristol Advice Point:  Shop No 1, Quay Street, Bristol BS1 2JL
2. contact Shelter's free housing advice helpline on 0808 800 4444 (calls are free from UK landlines and main mobile networks)
3. contact Community Legal Advice helpline on 0845 345 4 345 which provides free, confidential and independent legal advice

Immigration: Bristol Advice Point every Wednesday, 2pm to 4:30pm

How to access

Southmead Drop In: Wednesday 10 – 1pm

Bristol Advice Point:

• Monday - Friday (9.30 - 1pm) Drop-in Assessment
• Monday - Thursday (9.30 - 4.30pm) Self-help information service
• Friday Information Service (9.30 - 1pm)

Macmillan: 0117 946 2563 or email macmillan@bristolcab.org.uk

Royal British Legion: Tel: 0117 946 2565 ext 228 or email: rbladmin@bristolcab.org.uk

Good Tennant: email: housingemergency@bristolcab.org.uk