The day after Britain and France declared war on Germany in 1939, Citizens Advice was set up to help advise people on rations, evacuations, national service and a wide range of wartime concerns.

86 years later and they're still helping people to find a way forward - whoever they are and whatever their problem

The Foreign Citizens Advice Centre in Turkey is somewhat newer at just 16 years old and with a network of just 30 volunteers but we are no less committed to helping anyone in need of free, confidential, advice & support with any aspect of visiting, living in, working in or investing in Turkey. Visit us here www.adviceturkey.org - We'd love to hear from you.

Who They Are and the Difference They Make

For 85 years, they’ve been helping to shape a society where people face far fewer problems. Their mission is simple but powerful: to give people the knowledge and confidence they need to find their way forward — and to challenge the underlying causes of the issues they face.

They give advice to millions of people

Every year, millions turn to them for free, independent and expert advice across the widest range of everyday issues — from money and debt to benefits, housing, energy, work, consumer rights and more.

Their network of independent charities provides confidential support online, over the phone and in person. When they say they’re there for everyone, they mean it. People trust them because they’re impartial, accessible and focused solely on helping them move forward.

In 2024–25, they helped over 2.71 million people through one‑to‑one advice. This included:

• 51.7 million visits to their website
• 627,000 people supported face to face
• 1.7 million people using their phone service
• 928,000 people helped by email or webchat
• 80,000 witnesses supported through the Witness Service

They operate in around 1,900 locations across England, Wales and the Channel Islands, powered by 19,600 volunteers and 10,000 staff.

They speak up for people

No one else sees so many people with such a wide range of problems. This gives them a unique, unmatched insight into the issues affecting society today — insight that businesses, charities and government rely on.

They use this evidence to speak up for the people we help. By highlighting where systems fail and advocating for better policies and fairer industry practices, they work to prevent problems before they start.

They also act as the statutory consumer watchdog for the energy and postal sectors, identifying where things go wrong and pushing for improvements that make life better for everyone.

By tackling the root causes of problems and preventing them from escalating, they save the government and public services hundreds of millions of pounds every year.

They make a measurable difference

People value their support — 85% of those using their local services would recommend them to a friend.

Their work also delivers significant economic value. In 2024–25:

• Their advice directly saved government and public services at least £783 million
• For every £1 spent on their service, they generated £13.48 in benefits for the people they help
• They estimate their total value to society at £5.3 billion