About Us
We help people resolve their Debt, Welfare, Benefits, Employment, Consumer and other problems by providing free, independent and confidential advice, and by influencing policymakers.
Citizens Advice Caterham & Warlingham is a member of Citizens Advice Surrey which represents the Citizens Advice service across Surrey.
We operate from our office based in Caterham, with a standard service offering of a 4 days-a-week telephone, drop-in and appointment service (see Coronavirus update below).
We use the information we gather carrying out this work to campaign for social justice, so that individuals do not suffer through a lack of knowledge or an inability to express themselves effectively.
The benefits of our work are not limited to improving our clients’ financial situation but also contribute to improving their health, reducing their stress and improving their confidence in dealing with their own problems.
Coronavirus information, advice and help
All face-to face advice services are suspended for the forseeable future.
There are a number of ways people can continue to get advice at this time:
- General advice will be given via our Adviceline which people can reach by calling 0800 144 8848. This is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm
- You can email on office@caterham.cabnet.org.uk, Mon – Thursday from 10am to 4pm
- People can chat online to an advisor by visiting our website at citizensadvice.org.uk/ contact-us
- People looking for advice on consumer issues (e.g. issues related to products or services you’ve purchased) can contact the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133 or chat online to an advisor on our website
- Anyone seeking to make a new claim for Universal Credit should call the Universal Credit Help to Claim line on 0800 1448444
Waiting times for these services may be slightly longer than usual as we adapt to our new patterns of working.
Sarah Henke-Monti, Chief Officer of Citizens Advice Caterham, said: “Citizens Advice is here to give people the knowledge and confidence they need to find their way forward in these difficult times. You can find frequently updated advice on a range of issues related to the Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak at citizensadvice.org.uk/coronavirus.
Our funding
Citizens Advice Caterham & Warlingham is an independent local charity.
We depend on local funding from local authorities, local charitable trusts, local businesses and private donations. Our highly trained volunteer force, who give their free time to help local people, enable us to keep our overheads to an absolute minimum.
- Donations help us to continue providing free independent advice and to develop our services in line with local needs.
- Donating online is a safe and easy way to help us to keep our vital work going.
Who we work with
We are keen to work closely with other organisations wherever this helps us to offer a better service to our clients and to maximise the positive impact we make on people lives.
Examples of this include working with:
- Tandridge District Council and Surrey County Council to ensure that appropriate information and advice is available to local people on a range of issues including debt, benefits entitlements and housing
- Local Children’s Centres to provide advice and support to young families and single parents
- Caterham Foodbank and Trussell Trust to give food vouchers to Clients and their families to provide immediate relief from financial hardship.
Our History
Citizens Advice has provided free, confidential and independent advice for the past 80 years. Adapting to the ever changing needs of society has made Citizens Advice the most recognised and trusted provider of information and advice in the country.
As an established part of many local communities we are in almost every town and city in the country. Our service is very well known, with 95% of the public aware of it (MORI 2005).
We have been helping local people in Caterham & Warlingham since 1962. We predominately deal with clients from the small towns of Caterham and Warlingham but also cover other rural parts of the surrounding county area. We deliver a generalist advice service and specialist debt advice through our volunteer adviser network. The office in Caterham Valley is open four days a week and we offer outreach services.
In 2019/2020 Statistics
Over 840 unique clients seen
Over 2,365 client contacts
Income gained £83,179
Top 5 enquiry issues:
- Benefits – 961
- Housing & Homelessness Prevention- 390
- Debt – 358
- Relationship & Family – 246
- Employment – 225
Key Stats 19-20
Our Value to the Community
Value of Volunteering
We have over 21 volunteers working with us in a wide range of roles, including advisers, receptionists, administrators, and campaigners.
As well as the direct benefits to our clients volunteering helps people to build relationships, networks and bonds of trust. It is widely recognised as having a positive impact on local communities, and is often described as “the glue that holds communities together.” It also raises individual’s aspirations and encourages community participation.
