Continuing rises in the prices of things everyone has to buy mean difficult times for individuals and families even in prosperous areas. We want to help policymakers, organisations and residents take the right decisions to improve living standards for the whole population.
As the summer holidays continue, our focus on key issues affecting our community has not taken a break. The right to a safe, secure and affordable home remains our top priority. (3 minutes)
Victoria Wan is a Research & Campaigns Volunteer at Citizens Advice Epsom & Ewell.
Priced out. It's now harder and harder to find an affordable private rental in our community.
Tenants can pay the real cost of inaction in their health and finances.
Soaring water bills are now among the biggest headaches for individuals and families living on low incomes.
How better social tariffs across essential services could significantly reduce poverty.
Navigating the energy landscape can be challenging.. The Priority Services Register is a vital support tool..
CAEE is reaching out to the community to help residents manage energy efficiently in the home.
More households struggle with higher winter-to-spring energy bills.
Post #2 in our Navigating Energy Challenges series
In a confusing world it’s no surprise if problems trip up families and spoil lives.
By CAEE Research and Campaigns Team. (3 minutes)
A momentous year spent highlighting necessary improvements to clients' lives.
Along with CA Mole Valley colleagues, we were pleased to meet Helen Maguire MP, our new representative at Westminster. It was a great opportunity to talk about how we can work together for the benefit of local people.
Lisa Davis is CEO at Citizens Advice Epsom & Ewell (2 minutes)
Those eligible for support will be on benefits, live in a low-income household or need crisis support.
Barriers to benefits. At Citizens Advice Epsom and Ewell, we see vulnerable clients every day facing significant obstacles when applying for the support they really need.
The Budget. Two cheers for people under pressure: household support, more help with debt repayment.
'Experts downbeat' wasn't what we were hoping for the least well-off.
Colleagues Anna and Victoria update stakeholders on value of the local Household Support Fund.
Autumn: fruitfulness for policy research. Not so mellow for clients. A campaigns update.
The rules for Winter Fuel Payments have changed. You may need to claim Pension Credit to qualify.
Private renters’ costs are going ‘Through the Roof’. And it's not just the rent.
Data Insights July. Our public affairs colleagues produced strong evidence for providing immediate help.
Citizens Advice data on living standards has become central to the public debate in recent months.
Since June our Household Support Fund has helped 90 local families. FAQs.
School uniforms. In her new blog Anna Tickle writes about an important cost approaching with the new school year.
Families across the country 'living on empty’ has not been an election issue.
Finally, there's more debate about issues impacting many people we help. Not, unfortunately, from politicians.
This election should be about Living Standards but Swifties may see Eras! 🎵
Why living standards must be properly debated. And our first priorities for the new government.
The new Household Support Fund runs April to September. That will not be enough.
Income insecurity means the cost crisis is not over. Data Insights report.
Citizens Advice Data Insights 15 May 11am. Tales of two recoveries.
Action now could solve problems in the last stage of universal credit roll-out.
Civil society is the institutions, people and beliefs that aren’t public or private, government or business. A positive report by our research team in a second Conference 2024 blog.
By Research and Campaigns Team, Citizens Advice Epsom & Ewell (4 minutes)
At Conference for the first time, Vicki hoped to learn more about how Citizens Advice works. She wasn’t disappointed. A full day covered tech possibilities, colleague and client wellbeing and Citizens Advice values.
Vicki Phelan is a Financial and Wellbeing Support Service Caseworker at Citizens Advice Epsom & Ewell (4 minutes)
Local service standards really matter to all local people but some more than others.
The chancellor extended the Household Support Fund for a further 6 months as part of the Spring Budget.
"Alarm bells should be ringing with politicians". The stark message from our latest Data Insights briefing.
We've posted reflections on our 2023-24 campaigns with thinking about the new campaign year 2024-25.
For many local people we helped in 2023 price inflation in essentials caused serious debt problems.
Election Year Briefing 18 January. With the UK's most respected election analyst, Professor Sir John Curtice.
Hopes and fears have dominated Citizens Advice cost–of-living campaigns othroughout 2023. They rise and fall with official statistics and our own national and local data.
Research & Campaigns Team, Citizens Advice Epsom & Ewell. (2-minute read)
Martin Lewis was his plain-speaking self when he joined the latest CA cost-of-living briefing.
High demand for advice and campaigns for mitigation of troubles facing so many.
The Elf on the shelf has reminders about how to save energy and money all round the house.
Two of our three asks got positive answers in the Autumn Statement. Good, but there's more to do.
The new Citizens Advice dataset reveals no let-up for growing numbers of clients.
By Anna Tickle, Research & Campaigns Volunteer
We're calling on government to uprate benefits in line with inflation and unfreeze Local Housing Allowance.
In the year to March 2023 we saw fuel debt issues almost double on the previous year.
Rising rents and homelessness mean councils face budget-busting costs of statutory housing responsibilities.
Abandoning changes to EPC standards will have most impact on those already struggling.
You’re buying a flight or cinema ticket. Right before finalising payment there's a booking fee....Arrgh
Ministers should consider more ways of regulating supply of essential home services.
The aim is relief for families struggling to afford essentials - food, clothing, utilities, housing costs.
For over a year the ‘cost of living crisis’ has dominated in all media. It became so familiar that younger people gave it a nickname, the ‘cozzie livs’. (4-minute read)
Chloe May and Anna Tickle are Research and Campaigns Volunteers at Citizens Advice Epsom & Ewell.
It’s already clear some households will struggle with energy bills this winter.
Good outcomes for customers – that is now the Financial Conduct Authority’s aim in regulating banks and other service providers. People should expect to be treated well.
Chloe May (pictured) and Anna Tickle are Research and Campaigns Volunteers at Citizens Advice Epsom & Ewell.
Our national colleague Dominic has written a blog with 5 simple things to do (or do better!) We like it a lot.
Changes in inflation and interest rates affect everyone, but low- and middle-income people most.
Why government must commit to improving the energy efficiency of the nation's homes. Research & Campaigns Team (3 minutes)
The cost-of-living crisis is not inflicting pain equally.
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