Our role and history
We provide free, confidential, independent and impartial advice and support for people experiencing problems.
Our advice service covers:
- Benefits
- Work
- Debt and money
- Consumer
- Housing
- Family/relationships
- Law and courts
- Immigration
- Health
We also campaign on the big issues that affect people’s lives.
Part of national Citizens Advice network
Our Advice Service works with a range of other voluntary organisations, both locally and nationally, to provide people with the help they need to resolve problems. We are a member of UK-wide Citizens Advice, a network of 316 independent charities. Citizens Advice provides us with a range of support, including for local fund-raising, specialist information services, and research to use in our campaigning work. It also provides a range of infrastructure services to support the smooth running of our business.
Our history
Citizens Advice has provided free, confidential and independent advice for more than 80 years. Adapting to the ever changing needs of society has made Citizens Advice the most recognised and trusted provider of information and advice in the country. As an established part of many local communities we are in almost every town and city in the country.
We have been helping local people since 1939, when Citizens Advice opened some of its very first bureaux including Haslemere and Guildford.
Citizens Advice Waverley was established in 2006 by the merger of the Haslemere bureau with other, newer bureaux in Cranleigh, Farnham and Godalming.
Citizens Advice Guildford & Ash was then established in January 2022 through a merger of the two independent charities in these areas.
Most recently, in 2023 Citizens Advice South West Surrey came into existence through a merger of Citizens Advice Waverley and Citizens Advice Guildford & Ash.