Citizens Advice helps local residents to secure over £20 million in financial support

 

PRESS RELEASE

2nd February 2026

Citizens Advice helps local residents to secure over £20 million in financial support

Citizens Advice Adviser Helping Resident Image (1)

Dorset residents are continuing to seek the help of Citizens Advice as demand remains high  with benefits and debt related issues. During 2025, the service helped local residents gain over £20 million in financial outcomes. This included welfare benefits gained, debts written off as well as access to other grants and support. 

Citizens Advice in Dorset helped 14,300 residents with 79,000 issues in 2025. Benefits was the top issue, with over 32,000 benefit related enquiries.

Citizens Advice saw an increase in demand for debt and utility issues. Residents in the Dorset Council area presented with 20% more fuel debts and 23% more Council Tax debts than in 2024.

Daniel Cadisch, Chief Officer, Citizens Advice Central Dorset, said: “Residents had a tough year coping with the high cost of living. Our team connected people with the help that they needed. Supporting people to maximise their income and manage finances allows them to feel more resilient and more confident to cope with rising household bills.”

Daniel continues: “People often come to us for help with one issue which then reveals a number of additional issues putting more pressure on our service. Demand for debt advice is also high with nearly 2000 people seeking debt advice from us in 2025. Our message to residents is to approach us for help at the earliest stage, that way we can point you in the right direction and work with you to build resilience in 2026.”

Citizens Advice in Dorset relies on grants and donations to maintain its service for local people. Daniel added: “We are an independent charity and are hugely grateful to all of our funders and in particular, Dorset Council for their financial and partnership support enabling us to provide advice for Dorset residents.”

A Dorset resident who recently had help with debt advice said: “I found the debt team all very friendly and very helpful. Even when I was at my most stressed, they were always willing and able to help me with my problems and help me sort them. I feel a big weight has been lifted since my Debt Relief Order has been approved. Thank you.”

For free, confidential advice and support, call the Dorset Adviceline on 0800 144 8848 or visit www.citizensadvicedorset.org.uk for details of your nearest Citizens Advice.

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For more information contact: Sian Smith, Comms Officer, tel: 01929 408947, email: [email protected]

About Citizens Advice in Dorset:

Citizens Advice in Dorset provides free, independent, confidential and impartial advice to everyone on their rights and responsibilities to enable them to find a way forward whatever problems they face. We value diversity, promote equality, challenge discrimination wherever we see it and aim to improve the policies and practices that affect people’s lives. 

Citizens Advice in Dorset is located across three regions: