On behalf of all of the staff and volunteers of Citizens Advice, I would like to thank Guardian and Observer readers for so generously supporting the papers’ 2022 charity appeal. Donations – which total an incredible £1,557,000 – will help us continue to provide our vital frontline services in local communities.
Over the course of 2022, we’ve seen record numbers of people in need of urgent support amid the cost of living crisis. Every day our advisers help people to navigate the most desperate situations as financial pressures pile on.
We’ve heard thousands of heartbreaking stories: parents skipping meals so they can feed their children, pensioners for whom waiting in our office is the warmest they’ve been all winter, and working families who’ve never before needed help but are now struggling to cover the very basics.
In the face of this crisis, our teams are finding ways to reach those who need us. You’ll have read over the course of the last few weeks about advisers working in schools and on the road in mobile advice vans, as well as helping hundreds of thousands more in person or via email, web chat and phone.
At a time when everyone is feeling the strain, the support you’ve shown is humbling. It will go a long way in helping us provide the support people need this winter and beyond. Thank you.
Clare Moriarty
Chief executive, Citizens Advice