Every Citizens Advice Bureau is a registered charity; we rely on trained volunteers to help provide our wide range of services.

The service is composed of the national membership organisation, Citizens Advice, and individual independent members of the Citizens Advice Bureaux. We have the commitment and initiative to respond to the community needs of the local community, whilst benefitting from being part of a national network.

The key benefits of our Citizens Advice membership network are:-

The Citizens Advice Information System

• The information system, used by CAB advisers, is a comprehensive, detailed and up-to-date online reference source. For outreach purposes it can also be accessed through a CD.

Quality assurance through the Citizens Advice Membership Scheme

• The Membership Scheme sets out the quality assurance standards to which all members are required to operate. Citizens Advice undertakes regular management audits and quality of advice assessments of all member organisations.
• The auditors are qualified and authorised to assess bureaux for the Community Legal Service General Help Level Quality Mark. This was renewed in February 2009.

Consultancy services

• Access to Citizens Advice Consultancy provides bureau advisers with expert assistance on complex advice matters. It ensures that high quality advice can be accessed for clients across the social welfare spectrum.

The Competencies Programme

• Bureau advisers undertake structured training and assessment programmes to ensure that their work is to prescribed professional standards - the Citizens Advice Certificate in Advice work.
• We hold the Community Legal Service Quality Marks at General Help Level, and for debt and welfare benefits advice at Specialist Level.

Promotion of inclusivity