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Carlisle & District
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Social Policy
The Citizens Advice service has always provided free, independent advice and used clients' experiences to influence national and local services and policies. Citizens Advice collects evidence of our clients' problems and uses this to campaign for changes in policies and services. We have a key role in speaking up for clients, raising issues brought into bureaux, contributing to public debate and influencing legislation
We regularly publish evidence reports, briefings, on a huge range of issues including consumer, debt, housing, benefits, immigration, employment, legal matters and health.
Throughout every year we identify a number of clients with issues that need social policy action, both at local and national levels
Carlisle Citizens Advice collects all these issues and, with evidence from all other bureaux around the country to form a powerful force for social change. Also on a local level, we work directly with a number of local organisations to influence change
We try to ensure that these issues are shared with our MP and Local Authority departments, so that together we can identify issues important to the district
As an example of the type of work involved, we have recently collected evidence and acted on the following issues:
Problems with dealing with the DWP and claiming Crisis Loans
Refusal of sickness insurance claims
Provision of local dental services on the NHS
Utility supplier errors and overcharging
Harassment from debt collectors and bailiffs
High-pressure sales techniques
Difficulties providing evidence to open a bank account
Lack of homelessness provision
Inappropriate lender charges
We are continually collecting and acting on evidence and looking for new ways to deliver social policy action.