As well as our standard service where we can offer free, confidential, and expert advice on a range of issues we are also involved in a wide range of other projects.
Listen, Learn, Adapt
We are continuously looking to improve, and this project is intended to do just that. We know we are not reaching all in the community we need to be, and it is hoped this research project will help narrow that gap. Working with people of colour and ethnic minorities (recognising in the absence of better terminology this terminology is not ideal) we aim to enable our organisation to become more inclusive and diverse. With the help of the research conducted we will be able to improve community engagement, leading to better health and well-being.
We are proud to be working together with Age UK Bucks, The Oasis Partnership, Buckinghamshire Mind and Wycombe Wanderers Sports and Education Trust on this project.
This project is kindly funded by The Rothschild Foundation, Heart of Bucks and The Clare Foundation.
If you would like to know more about this project, please feel free to contact [email protected]
Pension Wise
Pension Wise was set up to help people understand the pension options available to them if they have a defined contribution pension. It is a Government service which is commissioned by The Money and
Pensions Service.
Citizens Advice Buckinghamshire works in partnership with Wiltshire and West Oxfordshire Citizens Advice as part of national network of Delivery Centres to provide this service.
We provide appointments that offer free, confidential, impartial guidance that helps empower people to make informed decisions about their pensions which best suit their individual circumstances.
Pension Wise offers guidance not regulated financial advice. We can help people understand the information they need to decide, but the choice is theirs. We will not recommend any financial products or providers and we adhere to Financial Conduct Authority standards.
Trained Guidance Specialists discuss the options available, the features of each and help people identify their next steps and make the right decisions for them.
People aged 50+ with a defined contribution pension pot can book a Pension Wise appointment: online by visiting the Government’s Pension Wise website: Pension Wise (moneyhelper.org.uk)
OR by calling 0800 138 3944 (+44 20 3733 3495 if you are outside the UK)
We can of course also signpost to Pension Wise if a client comes to us via our Bucks Adviceline/email. The Citizens Advice service already supports people with many of the issues affecting retirement.
Locally, Citizens Advice are the known experts at helping people understand their circumstances and making informed decisions that are best for them. In 2020/21 we delivered 6548 appointments across the Partnership and our customer satisfaction rate was 96%.
Safe Haven
Bucks Safe Haven Plus offers a safe and supportive environment, for anyone living in Buckinghamshire (age 18 years or older), experiencing a mental health crisis, as an alternative to going to accident and emergency. Specialist teams are available on hand to tackle issues that are affecting peoples’ mental health, as well as providing follow up support to help people in crisis.
People accessing Safe Haven can now be referred to us for further help. We know that the problems that we can help people solve such as changes to housing , debt and family relationship breakdown can make a real difference to their mental health. So we now have a dedicated worker supporting the Safe Haven team to help provide speedy and supportive help with these issues.
As ever our mission is to help people find a way forward and we are thrilled to be working with Buckinghamshire Mind, who run Safe Haven, Connections Support and the Oasis Partnership, to help provide a more holistic service to people in mental health crisis, on this important project led by Oxford Health and funded by the NHS.
More can be found out about Safe Haven here- Buckinghamshire Mind – Safe Haven (bucksmind.org.uk)
Outreach Advice: Buckingham Home visiting, Missenden Advice at home and Burnham Health Centre
At Citizens Advice Bucks we want to be here for everyone. As our motto goes ‘whoever you are, whatever the problem, we help you find a way forward.’ But we realise there are often barriers in place that can make it difficult for a client to access our advice service and they may need some additional support to help overcome any barriers to our services.
Our outreach team are specialists in supporting clients who are elderly, disabled, digitally excluded, socially isolated or who live too far from a local Citizens Advice office. They provide a holistic advice service that takes into account all of the challenges being faced by clients and can ensure they are getting; the right benefits, helps with energy bills, food parcels, blue badge forms and can give details of organisations and activities to help prevent loneliness.
We have a long history in delivering advice to difficult to reach members of the community, and have been received the Queens Award for home visiting carried out in the Buckingham area in the past.
Outreach services are supported by a range of different funders from BACAB to Burnham Health Centre, and would be thrilled to hear from other potential funders so we can cement the longevity and further the reach of this much needed service.
Bucks Energy Project
Citizens Advice Bucks energy project is running until April 22 to support people on a low income and at risk from fuel poverty to make positive changes to reduce energy consumption, reduce the cost of energy that is used, and maximise income from welfare benefits and energy related support payments over the winter months.
We will be delivering group session to community groups and individual energy advice appointments to those that need a little extra assistance to take steps out of fuel poverty.
Debt
Our debt team are funded by a range of sources to provide specialist debt advice and can help people with rent arrears, re-arranging debts, and making sure that people get the help they need when they are in debt. This can include income maximisation and running a benefits check to see if people are entitled to more benefits then they are currently claiming. In addition, at times we might help put in place debt relief orders, IVA’s, stop interest accruing on debts, or help people negotiate payment arrangements. There is no shame in being in debt, and our confidential team are here to help you get out of debt.
University of Buckingham Law Clinic
The UoB Law School and Citizens Advice have been working together to deliver the Law Clinic project in Bucks since 2015. Every year students are invited to apply for a position on that years Law Clinic programme, with successful applicants undergoing training with Citizens Advice before being supported to deliver advice sessions for clients in the Buckingham area.
