About Us
Below you can find answers to the most commonly asked questions about how we run Citizens Advice Daventry and District
Our Aims
- To provide the advice people need for the problems they face.
- To improve the policies and practices that affect people’s lives.
About Citizens Advice Daventry & District
The current organisation was established in 1996 and became a charity and company limited by guarantee in December 1999. We are a member of the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux, trading as Citizens Advice.
The network of Citizens Advice organisations originated in 1939 at the start of the Second World War from the need to help people with Housing and Welfare Benefits. CADD still advises clients on many issues but the top reasons for people seeking help are: Benefits and Housing issues along with Debt and Employment queries. The help provided is free, independent, impartial and confidential
Since 1999, the resources available to us have progressed and developed to what is now an extensive online library enabling us to provide advice that’s current and tailored to individual need. It’s hard to believe that this began as a paper based system, fitting into three draws of a filing cabinet and updated monthly with cuttings of new information!
The service we know today has evolved over time and welcomed many changes along the way. This includes the merger of two local organisations; the Disability and Advice Line (known as DIAL) and Daventry Welfare Rights.
As the local community expands and diversifies, we continue to find innovative solutions to meet demand and ensure everyone has access to quality, independent advice that’s free at the point of contact. With wider issues in society leading to ever changing need; we are dedicated to campaigning for change and aim to ensure everyone in the Daventry district feels that their voice is heard.
How many people do you have?
We have a volunteer team of over 40 people plus one fulltime and eight part-time staff:
See our Volunteer Page for more information about what our volunteers do and how you can join them.
How are you managed?
We are a Registered Charity and a private company limited by guarantee. We are managed by a volunteer Trustee Board, some of whom are also Directors of the Company, made up of local people, local councilors and representatives from business.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer Trustee please see our Volunteer Page.
We are members of the national Citizens Advice organisation who set strict standards for the running of the service and regularly audit the quality of our advice and the overall management of the service.
We also hold the Advice Quality Standard for General Help and Casework in Welfare Benefits (previously the Community Legal Service Quality Mark). Our debt advice work is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
How are you funded?
Although we are mainly staffed by volunteers we still need money to run the local service. We receive no money from central government but do receive grants from local government.
However this does not cover our total outgoings and we need to raise additional funds to maintain the service.
We are a registered charity and are dependent on donations from the local community. Our Support Us page explains how you can help.
During 2020 our Advisors dealt with the following enquiries
