There are two main elements of what we do.

There are the people who come through the door who we help with whatever issue they have, whether that is benefits, debt, housing, employment and relationships among others.

The second part of what we do is carry out research and campaigns which go toward establishing wider national trends.

I have been with CAB since 1999. I initially qualified as a solicitor and I have been working here in Bridgwater for nearly five years.

I am the CEO and have responsibility for implementing the policy and strategic direction.

I was studying my first degree in sociology and philosophy, and went to get work experience locally in Stoke-On-Trent at the CAB there.

Something just clicked for me and I felt an urge to strive for social justice and address inequality. It has not left me since then.

We took quite a big hit in terms of income with Somerset County Council reductions, but we worked hard to rectify it and have been fortunate enough to secure other funding from Sedgemoor District Council and the EDF Community Impact Mitigation fund as well as others.

It as if they take with one hand and replace it with another and the money goes towards slightly different things. For example the money from Sedgemoor District Council is to be used to towards homelessness prevention and supporting clients with complex needs.

The CIM funding is different again - supporting and maintaining current standards in face of an increase in population.

We also work with EDF to support their workers.

With Universal Credit we have launched a help to claim service which we use to help people with their initial claim, and this can be done face-to-face, over webchat or over the phone.

It is a still a big issue.

Volunteering opportunities available.

Bridgwater office open 9.30am to 2.30pm Monday to Friday.

Drop-ins in Burnham Methodist Church between 9.30am and 2pm on Tuesdays.

Also on Thursdays there is a drop-in between 9.30am and 2.30pm at Hope Baptist Church in Highbridge.

We are seeing an increase in complex issues. These are clients who may be dealing with multiple adversities for example a mental health condition and a substance addiction.

Client is a long standing client of Citizens Advice Sedgemoor and needed support in relation to their Universal Credit claim.

Working in partnership with Sedgemoor District Council and the DWP, we facilitated making a successful claim. We continue to provide ongoing support to manage the claim and support them in other areas around their physical and mental health, literacy and numeracy issues, housing needs, debt management and budgeting support.

We have also supported the client through the Local Assistance Scheme by providing help to furnish new accommodation and issuing food vouchers.

A client attended our drop-in service having been served an eviction notice but admits to burying her head and not dealing with it due to her depression and mental health issues.

The client had a 2 year old child, was in receipt of Universal Credit and had £3,000 worth of rent arrears.

We supported the client to prevent the eviction from taking place by making an application to the court, making an application for a Discretionary Housing Payment, ensuring that the client was receiving her maximum benefit entitlement, arranged for her future rent to be paid directly from her Universal Credit to her landlord, budgeted with the client to identify an amount that could be paid off the arrears and liaised with the council and her landlord to advise them of the actions put in place.