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

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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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Cost of Living Campaign

The UK is reportedly living through the biggest cost-of-living crisis seen in decades, with the cost of essentials such as food, fuel and housing rising significantly faster than...

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