Advice in Action

Advice in Action is an ongoing programme allowing policy makers to witness first hand the valuable work done in Scotland’s 76 frontline Citizens Advice Bureaux.

Participants are invited to visit a local bureau, where they act as a ‘silent volunteer’ for a morning or afternoon by shadowing a trained adviser and sitting in on client interviews.

Advice in Action was launched in September 2002 when Helen Liddell MP, Alex Salmond MP, Charles Kennedy MP and Peter Duncan MP each visited their constituency bureau.

The initiative has since gone from strength to strength, with a number of MPs, MSPs and civil servants all readily accepting the invitation to take part.  But don’t just take our word for it, here’s what some participants said:

‘All of the visit was useful. I picked up some flaws in the benefits system I hadn’t appreciated from my own casework’ (MP)

‘I enjoyed it when a client got a positive outcome – when I was there a client got a claim resolved’ (Civil Servant).

‘I would recommend it – it lets you see a different perspective on social policy issues’ (Civil Servant)

Our briefing sheet contains further information about the initiative.  If you are a politician, researcher or civil servant, please contact us to take part in Advice in Action.