Citizens Advice Northumberland unveiled its 2023-24 Impact Report at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Thursday 5 December, at Morpeth Rugby Club. 2024 saw record numbers of people turning to the charity for help with the cost of living, energy issues, debt, and crisis support.
Over the past year, the charity has provided advice and support to nearly 38,000 people, tackling over 153,000 issues. The impact? An incredible £17 million in direct income gained for the local community and nearly £1 million of debt either written off or repayment plans rescheduled. These figures include help for people in the wider region and further afield through a national debt advice programme led by Citizens Advice Northumberland.
The biggest challenges have been debt, energy and fuel poverty, and welfare benefits. In 2024 alone, over 20,000 people were supported with debt issues, more than 5,000 received help with energy problems, and almost 3,000 were assisted with welfare benefits.
This year also marks a huge milestone — 85 years of Citizens Advice in the UK and Northumberland! To celebrate, the Lord Lieutenant of Northumberland, Dr. Caroline Pryer, joined as the keynote speaker. She shared her love for the county, its challenges, and its incredible people. What a fantastic way to honour such an important anniversary!
Abi Conway, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice Northumberland, said: “This has been another demanding year for many people living and working across Northumberland. It’s rewarding to see the positive impact of Citizens Advice work on local people’s lives. The continuing challenges of the cost-of-living crisis can be seen in stark relief throughout the Impact Report. We are committed to finding new ways of supporting people, and extending our reach to ensure anyone in need, however remote the location, can benefit from our services when they need them.”
Lord Lieutenant of Northumberland, Dr Caroline Pryer said: “Every corner of Northumberland, however rural or remote, is covered by Citizens Advice Northumberland’s hard-working staff and volunteers. They can turn round people’s lives. Their dedication helps us all look forward to a new year more positively.”
Professor Sir Michael Marmot, founder and director of the Institute of Health Equity at University College London, provided a televised presentation and said: “A fairer, healthier society has been my mission for many years and is at the core of the work of Citizens Advice Northumberland. By focussing on making life less problematic for people facing debt, housing and energy problems, Citizens Advice is also helping children of those families attain a healthier standard of living. Reducing child poverty and breaking the link between child poverty and problematic lives for children is one of Citizens Advice’s key aims and one of mine. I’m delighted to be involved in their annual event.”
The 2023-2024 Impact Report highlights how Citizens Advice Northumberland stepped up to meet the huge demand for its services in 2023/24 and gives a sneak peek at its plans for the year ahead. One big win was establishing its Community Advice Service, which works with schools, food banks, and parish councils to train their staff and volunteers as Citizens Advice ‘Community First Aiders’. This means more people on the ground can provide support when it’s needed most, helping to boost the capacity at Citizens Advice Northumberland. The initiative is supported by Northumberland County Council and the North of Tyne Combined Authority — teamwork at its best!
You can download the Impact Report 2023-2024 here.
If you need advice or support you can contact us in the following ways:
W: www.citizensadvicenorthumberland.org.uk
T: 0808 278 7944
