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Publications

  1. Issue 13 of the Citizens Advice Scotland network magazine
    Citizens Advice Scotland
    Publication date:
    February 2024

    Welcome to the Winter 2024 edition of Voice Magazine. 

    In this issue:

    • campaigning CABS; local approaches to national campaigns
    • East Renfrewshire CAB's Older People's Project explained
    • we meet David Hilferty, who took on the role of Director of Impact last summer
    • we also meet CAS's new Strategic Lead for Social Justice, Emma Jackson
    • debt and mental health issues often go hand in hand, will legislative change offer sufficient protections to vulnerable people?
    • Data from the network show the worrying impact on health of the poor state of some rental properties.

    Read it online or download a PDF.

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  2. Issue 12 of the Citizens Advice Scotland network magazine
    Citizens Advice Scotland
    Publication date:
    October 2023

    Welcome to the Autumn 2023 edition of Voice Magazine. 

    In this issue:

    • what  happened at our first in-person conference in 3 years
    • outreach in the Highlands - new work from Central Sutherland colleagues
    • we meet our new Chair, Simon Rennie
    • accessible communications - Drumchapel CAB explains how they achieved a new accreditation
    • our new volunteering strategy, what happens next?
    • money advice delivered in the building society - a productive relationship between network and the industry.

    Read it online or download a PDF.

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  3. Issue 11 of the Citizens Advice Scotland network magazine
    Citizens Advice Scotland
    Publication date:
    August 2023

    Welcome to the Summer 2023 edition of Voice Magazine. 

    In this issue:

    • new tech for volunteer management and engagement
    • illegal evictions - what are we doing as a network?
    • we look at Rory Mair's 6 years as CAS Chair
    • Adult Disability Payment - how we are working to bring about change.
    • Gambling Support Service - what has changed.

    Read it online or download a PDF.

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  4. Publication date:
    July 2023

    An evaluation of the Debt Happens campaign, which ran in Spring 2023. 

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  5. Issue 10 of the Citizens Advice Scotland network magazine
    Citizens Advice Scotland
    Publication date:
    May 2023

    Welcome to the Spring 2023 edition of Voice Magazine. 

    In this issue:

    • one bureau's response to the cost of living crisis
    • we profile two student volunteers
    • a look at the PASS service 
    • we hear from Tom Arthur MSP.

    Read it online or download a PDF.

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  6. November 2022
    CAS
    Publication date:
    March 2023

    The need for emergency food aid continues to be a prominent issue throughout Scotland with demand for food banks on the rise in post-Covid recovery and the cost-of-living crisis. The purpose of the Shopping Card Pilot was to investigate alternative methods of reducing food insecurity and providing immediate financial need. The pilot intended to provide households with greater dignity and choice alongside provision of money advice as a way to provide long term support. 

  7. Issue 9 of the Citizens Advice Scotland network magazine
    Citizens Advice Scotland
    Publication date:
    January 2023

    Welcome to the Winter 2022/23 edition of Voice Magazine. 

    We have had a little break and we are pleased to be back and bringing you this issue of Voice.

    We look at the work of the Extra Help Unit as they deal with unprecedented demand and people at risk of self-disconnection. And we look at the brand new CAS strategy and what that means for your bureau.

    Read it online or download a pdf.

    Spotlight:
  8. Lesley Sweetman
    Publication date:
    July 2022

    This research report looks at the private rented sector in Argyll and Bute and was made possible through the award of Small Impact Grant from Citizens Advice Scotland and delivered in-house by bureau staff. 

    Scoping this work, the bureau had two overarching objectives:

    -   to raise awareness of freely available advice and support to tenants, as all too often tenants are unaware of their rights or approach the bureau only at the stage when they are potentially facing eviction;

    and,

    -   to gain a better understanding of the challenges facing private rental tenants in the area which also has a thriving and important tourism sector.

    Through a mix of print, radio and digital promotion, an estimated 20,000 people were reached, helping to raise awareness of the bureau and the advice and support available on a wide range of everyday issues facing local people including advice on housing, debt, employment and welfare.

    Central to this research was a private sector rental survey which was designed to capture the views of those currently renting in that sector, as well as those looking for a private rental in the area.  Completing the survey in full, 155 people shared their views and experiences.  Focus groups followed and provided further opportunity to gain deeper insight into private rental experience. 

    Delivering this report comes at a time of significant and potential change in the private and short term rentals sectors in Scotland.  The report seeks to provide useful insight into the private rental sector in Argyll and Bute, the challenges private sector renters face, and how closely aligned economic prosperity and the availability of safe, secure, warm and affordable homes are to the area.  

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  9. Issue 8 of the Citizens Advice Scotland network magazine
    Citizens Advice Scotland
    Publication date:
    April 2022

    Welcome to the Spring 2022 edition of Voice Magazine. 

    As we all return to a more normal working life, we talk to Renfrewshire CAB about the innovative approaches they have taken to fill unfunded roles and to welcome new volunteers into the bureau.  In this issue we also take a look at the range of work taking place across the network to help people in Scotland address the current cost of living crisis. We talk to Edinburgh CAB colleagues about how they approached our recent Debt Happens campaign and we speak to Aberdeen and Fife about how they have built relationships and forged partnerships with their local authorities to the benefit of clients.

    We meet some of the new Advice Services Team who explain how they hope to work with the network and we offer up some top tips for getting some local media coverage for your bureaux and promoting the great work you do.   

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  10. Publication date:
    April 2022

    This briefing presents the impact of the Scottish Citizens Advice network over the last few years, and its value to the communities it serves. 

  11. Katy Haigh
    Publication date:
    March 2022

    The competitive water market in Scotland was launched in April 2008. This report explores small to medium business customers’ experiences of the market. It brings together policy insights and market developments with evidence from recently commissioned research. Recommendations are provided which, when actioned by the market, will deliver offerings that have been informed by service users to improve consumer outcomes.

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  12. Issue 7 of the Citizens Advice Scotland network magazine
    Citizens Advice Scotland
    Publication date:
    December 2021

    Here is the Autumn/Winter 2021 edition of Voice. In this issue we focus on some if the green issues that we have all been thinking about in the wake of COP26. We hear from colleagues who attended the climate summit and learn a bit about their roles there. Patrick Harvie MSP shares his thoughts on the event and tells us how we, as a network, can support Net Zero ambitions. We also take a look at a range of energy related issues - from the BESW campaign to fuel poverty and rising energy costs. The Increase Volunteering project team gave us the low down on how they ae supporting training and Roxburgh CAB are ahead of the game in helping their local community to comply with upcoming fire and smoke alarm regulations.

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  13. Issue 6 of the Citizens Advice Scotland network magazine
    Publication date:
    August 2021
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  14. Issue 5 of the Citizens Advice Scotland network magazine
    Publication date:
    April 2021
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  15. Water Policy Team
    Publication date:
    April 2021

    Regulation of Scotland’s non-household water market is seeking to move service providers towards operating ‘ethically’. This will better ensure that the market consistently delivers benefits in a way that protects users’ trust and confidence, and safeguards the market’s reputation.

    Some licensed providers choose to operate using the services offered by third party intermediaries (TPIs), which are unregulated. 

    CAS is of the view that the application of ethical behaviour should apply across the supply chain to ensure positive outcomes for all non-household customers, no matter who they do business with.

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  16. Tony Hutson
    Publication date:
    December 2020

    This report presents a summary and analysis of all advice sought and delivered by the Scottish Citizens Advice network between April 2019 and March 2020. 

  17. The Citizens Advice Scotland network magazine
    Publication date:
    December 2020

    Issue of 4 of the Citizens Advice network in Scotland magazine.

     

     

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  18. Kyle Scott
    Publication date:
    September 2020

    In early 2020, Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) commissioned Ipsos MORI to undertake exploratory research on the impact of Brexit on individuals, businesses and communities across Scotland. The findings of this research will assist CAS in understanding the future potential advice and support needs of Scottish communities

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  19. Publication date:
    June 2020

    Citizens Advice Scotland gathers information from Citizens Advice Bureaux and our online advice website.

  20. The Citizens Advice Scotland network magazine
    Publication date:
    April 2020

    Issue of 3 of the Citizens Advice network in Scotland magazine

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