Our services

Money and debt advice

Our Money Advice Team can help you find a solution to your debt problems.

Help to Claim

We have a Help to Claim service that can support you in the early stages of your Universal Credit claim, from the application through to your first full payment. You can:

  • call us for free on 0800 144 8 444 (advisers are available 8am to 6pm, Mon to Fri)
  • chat to us online (look for the "Talk to an adviser" box on this page)
  • speak to us face to face if you live or work in North Somerset (please visit any of our drop-in sessions, or email htc@nscab.org.uk to arrange an appointment)
  • read our online advice

Macmillan Benefits Advice Service

We offer a free, confidential advice service to people living with cancer, their carers and relatives.  We can advise on a range of issues including benefits and income maximisation and assist with any other related issues you may have, such as housing, debt and employment.  We can also help apply for charitable support where there is hardship.  We aim to ensure that people affected by cancer receive the support and help they need to minimise the financial effects of a cancer diagnosis.

We are able to help patients receiving treatment at Weston General Hospital or at Bristol Hospitals who live in North Somerset and North Sedgemoor.

To contact our Macmillan team, you can

  • phone us on 01934 836218 / 07751 831783 and leave a message if necessary, or
  • email us at Macmillan@nscab.org.uk, or
  • ask your Macmillan or specialist nurse to make a referral to us.

Whichever way you contact us, we will get back in touch with you and arrange a face to face appointment, either at a Citizens Advice office, Weston General Hospital or at your home if you are not well enough to travel.

If you have questions about living with cancer, ask Macmillan. Their cancer support specialists are there for everyone affected by cancer, whatever you need.   Call free on 0808 808 0000 Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm.

Social Prescribing

A partnership between Citizens Advice North Somerset and Alliance Homes provides the social prescribing service for Pier Health Group in Weston-super-Mare.
A team of Link Workers is assigned to five GP practices across Weston, Winscombe and Banwell. The GPs, nurses and other practice staff make referrals to the Link Worker when they identify patients with social (non-medical) needs. The Link Worker holds appointments with the referred patient and offers short- to medium-term support and guidance to help them improve their wellbeing. With the help of the Link Worker the patient can:
  • Learn how to deal with day-to-day issues like pensions, benefits, and money
  • Learn how to get access to the support services they need
  • Meet people and get involved in the activities they enjoy

#FirstSteps

Do you get Council Tax Support, but are struggling to pay your council tax bill?  Talk to the #FIRST STEPS team.

We can:

  • assist with bailiff issues
  • set up affordable payment arrangements
  • with budgeting for ongoing council tax bills
  • signpost for help with other debt matters

 

WHAM

The WHAM project is an innovative new model for supporting North Somerset’s most vulnerable residents – giving advice on energy, money, benefits and carrying out home repairs.

Settled Status

Settled Status - a partnership with North Somerset Council to provide advice and support for EEA Nationals applying for Settled Status.

Pension Wise

Free and impartial government guidance about your defined contribution pension options.

Advice North Somerset

Advice North Somerset was originally set up as part of a two-year Advice Services Transition Fund project, funded by the Big Lottery. The aim of the project was to set up an advice partnership in North Somerset to develop the advice services in the challenging climate of cuts to Legal Aid and changes brought in by Welfare Reform.

The original partnership was led by Citizens Advice North Somerset with Age UK Somerset, Alliance Homes and North Somerset BME Network.

Since October 2015 Advice North Somerset has continued, guided by a Steering Group led by Citizens Advice North Somerset.

Advice North Somerset’s aim is to create a partnership in the advice sector that will strengthen the relationship with key public sector bodies to “join up” advice services. Many clients that require the help of one service can also have issues that go beyond the remit of one organisation.

What this partnership strives to achieve is a “one stop” approach for clients that allow them to be referred onto another appropriate organisation to help them with any further problems that they are facing.