Research and Campaigns
What is Research & Campaigns?
Research and Campaigns is one the twin aims of our service. The stories our clients tell us provide Citizens Advice Plymouth with a unique insight into the problems faced by people in Plymouth and across the country. Our Research and Campaigns team analyse information to get a deeper understanding of issues and how they impact our clients. We then use our findings to campaign for positive change on behalf of our clients.
Campaigns often involve getting decision makers to change policies and practices that affect our clients.
How does it work?
We collect evidence and statistics anonymously so that individual clients are not identified and use this to produce reports. It helps us resolve issues at the source to prevent more people from experiencing difficulties.
We use the evidence we have of client’s problems to influence and make changes to new and existing laws.
- The report identifies improvements in services and changes in the law by:
- Highlighting issues to MPs, Councillors, and other policymakers
- Talking to our local council about their services and attending forums and meetings
- Discussing problems with organisations and companies to persuade them to improve their services
- Sharing evidence and ideas with national Citizens Advice and other LCAS to help with their campaigns
Local Research and Campaigns Work
We use our experience of people’s problems at a local level as well. We have recently completed an analysis of the cost of living crisis in Plymouth residents.
News stories about our campaigns
Two-child limit policy campaign
The two-child limit policy has been in the news a lot recently. We're working with the University of Plymouth School of Society and Culture and the Plymouth Institute of...
Council Tax Collection
From 1st April 2023, Council Tax in Plymouth will be increasing by 4.99%. Following the Council Tax rebate in 2022, there will be no further government £150 payments in...
Disrepair – Easy Read Booklet
Disrepair, including damp and mould and repairs and maintenance issues, was one of the biggest issues private and social rented tenants in Plymouth contacted us for support with...
Local Housing Allowance rate freeze
In collaboration with Citizens Advice Cornwall, Citizens Advice South Hams and the University of Plymouth's Business School, we have produced a report on the impact of the Local...
Housing Disrepair Easy Read booklet
Disrepair, including damp and mould and repairs and maintenance issues, was one of the biggest issues private and social rented tenants in Plymouth contacted us for support with...
Debt advice Easy Read booklet
Debt has become the largest area our advisers advise on. More than 1,000 people in Plymouth contacted us for support with debt during the last financial year 2022/23 and our data...
Energy Efficiency Easy Read booklet
As energy prices rise, many people don’t have enough money to pay for increased energy bills. We want to help you understand how to reduce your energy bills by following our top...
Banking explained
With so many different banks and banks accounts available on the market, it may be very difficult to know how banks operate, what bank account to choose or what it means for your...
Section 21 (Eviction Notice) Explained – Easy Read Booklet
Many people from Plymouth have contacted us about receiving Section 21 Notice. Many people didn’t know what it means and what to do. In this booklet, we explain what a...