By Angela Drew Robinson, Chief Officer
This year, on 4 September, Citizens Advice turned 85 having been set up in the days after the start of World War II. Since 1939, we’ve been helping people find a way forward working on the issues that affect every single one of us.
Thanet Citizens Advice held an event to mark this important occasion on 12th September this year. We were delighted to welcome Dame Clare Moriarty, CEO of Citizens Advice, along with our local Mayors, Councillors, Staff and Volunteers to celebrate together with tea and cake. One of our volunteers, Zayda Kebede, gave a presentation on the history of Citizens Advice and Samuel Philips, Reaching Communities Project Worker, updated everyone on one of our more recent projects, taking advice services out into the community.
We are delighted to be able to say that we have been here since almost the very beginning. Our records show that the Margate Citizens’ Advice Bureau was inaugurated in December 1939 and was re-organised in April 1966.
My own journey with Citizens Advice started in 2002 as a trainee volunteer adviser, alongside other part-time work and looking after my young son.
We were still paper and pen in those days, with a library of information in paper form compiled and sent by National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux HQ (NACAB) plus various standard reference books on all matters of enquiries.
I loved the role and felt it was empowering for myself as well as the client! The fact you are helping people to understand their rights and way forward with their issues, the alleviation of stress. The fact that we collected evidence where injustice and unfairness is witnessed, which has ultimately led to policy changes.
Over the years I have seen huge transformation in IT (heading to paperless offices), increased regulation from the FCA, evermore in-depth training for our advisers, and more rigorous standards and other checks to remain compliant.
To be a member of Citizens Advice we must ensure we deliver Quality Assured Advice and comply with their standards to hold the Advice Quality Standard kitemark. The Gold Standard of accredited advice.
Volunteers have always been the backbone of our service. We are so fortunate to have people willing to give up their time, contributing 4271 hours in 2023/24.
A lot of people don’t realise we are a charity but it’s true! We are thankful to Thanet District Council, Ramsgate Town Council, the National Lottery, Kent Community Foundation, UK Shared Prosperity Scheme and private donors for helping to keep our services going. But demand continues to increase along with costs, and we constantly need more funding to be able to grow and fulfil the need out there for our service. You won’t need me to tell you that Thanet is the most deprived local authority in Kent and one of the most deprived areas of the country.
Reading through our history is an important reminder and recognition of just how important our role has been for these last 85 years. And how important it is that it continues.
I know I speak for the whole team in Thanet when I say that we are proud of what we do. Citizens Advice is here for everyone and we want to remain here and accessible for everyone for at least the next 85 years!
