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Campaigning for Change

 
 
One of our aims as a Citizens Advice Bureau is to improve the policies and practices that affect people’s lives.

We collect evidence of clients' problems and use this, in the form of anonymous case studies, to campaign for changes in national and local policies and services. We have a key role in speaking up for clients, raising issues brought into the bureau, contributing to public debate and informing legislation.

Our policy/campaign work covers a wide range of issues including consumer, debt, housing, benefits, immigration, employment, legal matters and health.

We are independent and impartial so policymakers listen to us.
 

Current campaigns
 

Payday Loans - new rules for lenders

A pay day loan is a short term loan intended to tide you over until you next get paid, with high interest rates.

A good practice customer charter has been brought in by the four main trade associations setting out what you can expect from payday lenders. Most lenders belong to one of these trade associations. If you aren’t happy with the service they provide and they don’t meet the standards in the charter, you can complain.

We’d like to hear about your experiences of payday loans, to make sure lenders are acting fairly and responsibly.

Fill out our 5 minute survey

Find out more about payday loans

Reasons to complain to your lender

How to make a complaint, including a letter to help you

 
 
Fair Welfare campaign
 
We are working to influence welfare benefit policies so that the system is just and efficient, supporting those who need it, when they need it most.  At the moment we are concentrating on two key issues:
 
 
 
Housing Benefit

The Government has introduced a series of changes to the way Housing Benefit is calculated.  The effects of these cuts will increase over the next few years but are already beginning to hit some of the poorest people in Bristol.  Bristol CAB was a member of a Steering Committee, Bristol Poverty Action , set up to arrange a Poverty Hearing giving a voice to those effected by the cuts and to look at how Bristol as a city can work together to minimise their impact. A report of the Hearing is now available .

We would be interested to hear how changes to Housing Benefit are affecting you.

 
 
Employment and Support Allowance
 
 
Last year Bristol CAB dealt with over 1,000 queries concerning this benefit. Nationally and here in Bristol we are campaigning to improve how Employment and Support Allowance works.  If any of the following apply to you, please help.
 
  • The Comprehensive Spending Review announced that from April 2012 there will be a 12-month limit on contribution-based ESA for those in the work-related activity group. If you think you may be affected by this cut, tell us your story. 
  • If you have been on another sickness or disability benefit for some time, such as Incapacity Benefit, and have been told you now need to be reassessed for ESA, have your say by keeping a diary.

  • If you have experienced any problems with ESA, or if you are worried about proposed changes to the benefit, you can help us to inform MPs by writing a letter to your MP.

For draft letters, on on-line diary and further ideas for action see http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/index/campaigns/current_campaigns/fairwelfare/cam-fw-esaactions.htm
 
 
 
Other ways to get involved…
You may also want to contact your local MP or councillor, yourself, about an issue that concerns you.
Find and contact your local MP by using this link - www.theyworkforyou.com
or find and contact your local councillor via www.councillor.gov.uk