Taking Middlesbrough & Stockton Voices to National Decision-Makers

When you come to us for advice, you help us do more than solve problems.

The experiences you share with us help us show decision-makers what life is really like for people in the Tees Valley. We use this evidence to speak up about issues that affect our clients and campaign for positive change.

Over the last few weeks and months, we’ve been busy making sure your voices are heard at a regional and national level.

Sharing Your Experiences of PIP

We submitted another round of evidence to the Timms Review of Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

This evidence was based on workshops and surveys with our advisers, advisers from Stockton Citizens Advice, and people who have experience of claiming PIP.

By sharing the challenges our clients face when applying for and managing PIP claims, we can help decision-makers understand what is working well and what needs to change.

Showing How Schools Can Help Families Access Support

We also submitted evidence to a Parliamentary inquiry looking at the Government's plans for school reform.

We used learning from our Benefits in Schools project, where our advisers work directly in local schools.

Many of the families we support tell us that schools are a trusted place to ask for help. By bringing advice services into schools, we can reach people who might not otherwise access support.

We shared this learning with the inquiry so they can better understand how schools can help families facing financial difficulties.

Taking Your Stories to Westminster & Speaking Up About Council Tax Arrears

Our Chief Executive, Research and Campaigns Lead, Citizens Advice Stockton's Debt Team lead and their Communications and Projects Officer travelled to Westminster.

There, they met MPs, parliamentary staff and other organisations to talk about Council Tax reform and the challenges many of our clients face with Council Tax debt.

These conversations helped make sure that the experiences of people in the Tees Valley were part of national discussions.

Following those meetings, we are working on submitting evidence to a Government consultation on Council Tax arrears enforcement, and we'll be working more closely with the Council Tax Reform APPG on these matters.

This evidence will come directly from what our advisers see every day and what our clients have told us about dealing with debt collection and enforcement action.

We want a system that treats people fairly and recognises when they are struggling.

Working Together on Universal Credit Sanctions

We also worked with Citizens Advice offices across the North East on a report about Universal Credit sanctions.

The report highlights the experiences of people affected by sanctions and the impact they can have on finances, wellbeing and family life.

You can read the report here:

🔗 https://societymattersfoundation.org.uk/universal-credit-sanctions-ne-report

Thank You

Every survey completed, every workshop attended and every story shared helps us build a stronger case for change.

Your experiences matter.

By telling us what's happening in your life, you're helping us improve services, influence decisions and make sure the voices of people in the Tees Valley are heard by those in power. Thank you for helping us make that happen. 💙

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