Residents of Exeter have raised over £20,000 in response to an appeal to support Citizens Advice Exeter, but the charity’s leadership warns that additional funding is needed to sustain its services.
The fundraising campaign came after Exeter City Council reduced its grant funding for the charity from £200,000 to a one-time grant of £75,000 for the 2024/25 financial year. This funding cut has forced Citizens Advice to move to smaller premises and reduce both staff and volunteer hours.
Sue Julyan, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice Exeter, expressed gratitude for the community's contributions, saying, "We are enormously grateful to everyone who has contributed to our Crowdfunder campaign. While we have made every effort to cut costs and understand the financial challenges faced by Exeter City Council, it’s essential that we close the funding gap to continue offering high-quality support to the people of Exeter."
In 2023/24, the charity assisted more than 6,000 individuals with 20,000 issues ranging from benefits and debt to housing and employment. It also contributed £4 million to the local economy through income gains for its clients, while the value of its volunteers' time exceeded £600,000.
For those interested in supporting the charity, Sue Julyan can be reached at sue.julyan@citizensadviceexeter.org.uk or 07498 129716.
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