How can your problems help other people?

All Citizens Advice Bureaux collect evidence of their clients' problems, and we use this to work with local organisations to bring about changes needed in policies and services.

If your problem might be shared by other people across the country we tell the national Citizens Advice centre, without ever revealing the names of individual clients.

Citizens Advice has a key role in raising issues brought into bureaux, contributing to public debate and informing legislation.

Examples of improvements due to Citizens Advice Bureaux and our clients

All workers now have a legal entitlement to 4 weeks paid holiday per year (due to Citizens Advice and TUC work)
Tenants have often lost their rent deposit when they leave their homes. From October 2006 there has been a law to protect tenants' deposits.
Dorset CABx and Housing Associations used CAB debt work to help people with rent arrears to stay in their homes.

Citizens Advice has also been working on ...

Problems caused by overpaid Tax Credits
Problems in finding an NHS dentist
Problems caused by racism

All these need a change in how systems work or a change in the law so that other people do not have the same problem.

If this applies to your problem, please discuss with your adviser how we can use your experience to help others.