Who Are We

The Citizens Advice Bureau provides practical, impartial, confidential and FREE help. Our staff are specially trained to help with many different issues, which includes employment, housing, benefit and debt problems and if we are unable to help we can provide contacts to give expert legal advice.


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COMMUNITY LEGAL
SERVICE PARTNERSHIP


Torridge & Bude Citizens Advice Bureau is a signatory to the Devon Community Legal Service Partnership Concordat and a member of the Strategy Group.

The Partnership works to ensure the effective development and delivery of community legal and advice services. It strives to improve access to a network of co-ordinated legal and advice services in Devon which are of a consistently high quality and are appropriate to local needs.

AIMS

To ensure that individuals do not suffer through lack of knowledge of their rights and responsibilities or of the services available to them; or through an inability to express their needs effectively.

  and equally

To exercise a responsible influence on the development of social policies, both locally and nationally.

The Citizens Advice Bureau Service is independent and provides free, confidential and impartial advice to everyone, regardless of race, sex, disability or sexuality.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

The Citizens Advice Bureau Service recognises that many people experience injustice and inequality in their daily lives because of discrimination and prejudice.

We resolutely oppose discrimination and aim to ensure that our employment and service delivery policies and practices are equitable and just. We resist and challenge discrimination and support staff and clients who are confronted with all forms of social injustice.

ACCESSIBILITY

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A brief history of the Citizens Advice Bureau

The first 200 Citizens Advice Bureau opened just before the outbreak of the Second World War on 4th September 1939. The Bideford office opened soon after on 24th July 1940, being probably the first Citizens Advice Bureau in the West Country. By 1942 there were over 1000 bureau staffed entirely by volunteers and supported by local councils. A government grant was made to individual bureau via the Ministry of Health, who also funded travelling officers working from the National Council of Social Service.

After the end of the War national funding for individual bureaux was cut at which time the Bideford office closed. In 1950 all central government help was stopped and 3 years later the number of bureaux had fallen to a half of the 1948 figure. A central support service was able to continue with grants from charitable trusts, such as the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

Bideford CAB re-opened in 1970, with an office in Great Torrington opening in 1972. In April 2008 it merged with Bude and Holsworthy Citizens Advice Bureau. It was at this point that the organisation changed its name to Torridge and Bude Citizens Advice Bureau Ltd. In 2009 it
merged with Mid Devon Citizens Advice Bureau and now has offices in Tiverton, Crediton and Cullompton.

In 1999 the organisation signed a contract with the Legal Services Commission enabling it to provide legal advice to clients who have Debt and Welfare Benefit problems. The organisation accesses legal aid enabling it to provide legal advice free to clients on Debt and Welfare Benefit matters.

The organisation has offices in Bude, Bideford, Holsworthy, Torrington, Tiverton, Crediton and Cullompton.


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