Citizens Advice Diss, Thetford and District

27/08/2026

💙 💙

“Friendly, helpful, non-judgemental”

Three simple words that mean so much to us.

At Citizens Advice Diss, Thetford & District, we know that asking for help can sometimes feel difficult. Whatever you’re facing, you can talk to us knowing that you’ll be listened to with respect, treated impartially and never judged.

Our team of staff and volunteers are here to help you understand your options and find a way forward. This lovely feedback from one of our clients reflects the care, kindness and professionalism they show every day.

A huge thank you to everyone who takes the time to share their experience with us.

24/08/2026

📣 Have your say and help shape our future services!

We’re inviting everyone from across our area to join us for an informal Have Your Say drop-in event at our Diss office on Friday 4th September, 12pm – 2pm.

Come along for a cuppa, meet our staff and volunteers, and tell us what you think about our services, especially our community grocery store, The Shelf.

We’d particularly love to hear your views on what products you’d like to see stocked, how we could make The Shelf easier to access, and what general support local people need most, to ensure the services we provide are shaped by those who use them.

There will also be a chance to find out more about the wide range of volunteering opportunities available at Citizens Advice Diss, Thetford & District.

Whether you’ve used our services before or have never stepped through the door, why not drop by, find out more about us, and share your views and suggestions? We look forward to seeing you!

21/08/2026

📢 We’re reopening on Monday

After a week’s closure, our main office in Market Place, Diss, will reopen as normal on Monday 24 August.

The Shelf community grocery store will also be open again from Monday.

Thank you for your patience and understanding while we’ve been closed.

We’re looking forward to welcoming people back through our doors after the weekend.

20/08/2026

We're sorry to share that, at the end of this month, The Shelf Pantry Pop-up will be closing.

For the past two years, our mobile social supermarket has been visiting communities across the Breckland area, helping local people access affordable fresh food and everyday essentials closer to home.

Due to changes in resourcing, we're no longer able to run the Pop-up service, and our final visits will take place at the end of August.

We'd like to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has made the Pop-up what it has been - our dedicated staff, fantastic volunteers, our venue partners, and, most importantly, every person who has shopped with us and supported the project since it launched.

Throughout the rest of this month, our team members will be offering information to our clients on alternative affordable food schemes and support across the area.

Breckland Council’s Local Area Coordinators and Community Enabler will also continue to attend the venues for the foreseeable future to speak with residents, understand any challenges, and help connect them with the right support.

The Pop-up has always been about more than affordable food, and Breckland Council will continue to help residents access wider support while plans are being developed for a new service.

While we're saddened to say goodbye to the Pop-up, we're pleased to reassure you that The Shelf, based at our main office in Market Place, Diss, will continue to operate as normal and is open to anyone living within our area. We are also reviewing our food and advice offer to the community, as well as seeking new and exciting funding opportunities, which we look forward to updating you on.

We know that many people are continuing to feel the impact of the rising cost of living, but support is still available. Norfolk County Council has put together a helpful guide to foodbanks, community fridges and social supermarkets across the county, which you can find here: https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/article/39497/Struggling-to-afford-food

Thank you once again to everyone who has supported The Shelf Pantry Pop-up.

18/08/2026

🏠 Could you be eligible for the Warm Home Discount?

We’re resharing this reminder from our national Citizens Advice colleagues about the £150 Warm Home Discount this winter. If you receive certain means-tested benefits, you could be eligible. However, it’s important to check that you’re named on your electricity bill by Sunday 23 August if you want to receive the discount automatically.

💡Not sure if you qualify, or need some help with your energy bills?

Our specialist Energy Team can help with questions about the Warm Home Discount and other support that could be available to you.

📧 Email: [email protected]
🌐 You can also request help through our website: https://cadat.org.uk/get-advice/energy-advice-request/

Our advice is free, confidential and impartial, so if you’re unsure, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

If you get means-tested benefits like Pension Credit or Universal Credit, you could be eligible for the £150 Warm Home Discount this winter 🔥🏠

You must be named on your energy bill by 23 August to receive it automatically.

Find out more at the link in our first comment ⤵️

14/08/2026

📢 Office closure reminder

Just a reminder that our main office in Market Place, Diss, will be closed for one week from Monday 17 August.

This means The Shelf community grocery store will also be closed during this time. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

Both our office and The Shelf will reopen as normal on Monday 24 August.

If you need advice while our office is closed, you can still:
🔵Visit one of our community drop-in sessions, which will continue throughout the week
🔵Request advice through our website: https://cadat.org.uk/get-advice/request-for-advice/

Thank you for your understanding, and we look forward to welcoming you back through our doors on 24 August.

12/08/2026

| Getting ready for school 🎒

The new school year is just around the corner, and for many families that means getting ready for a new term – and thinking about the costs that come with it.

Every month, we're highlighting one of the many services we provide at Citizens Advice Diss, Thetford & District. This time we're focusing on getting ready for school and making sure you know where to turn if you're concerned about expenditure.

If you're worried about affording school essentials, it may be worth checking with Norfolk County Council to see if you’re eligible for support with:
🔵 Free school meals
🔵 School transport
🔵 The cost of school uniform

There are other ways to reduce the financial burden of buying school uniform. Your school may have a pre-loved uniform scheme, while local organisations such as Growkids Thetford provide donated clothing for free to local families. Local charity shops and online selling sites, such as Marketplace and Vinted, can also be good places to look for affordable items.

And it's not just starting school that can bring financial changes. If your child has recently left education, you may notice a change in the money coming into your household. The child element of your Universal Credit and Child Benefit could stop, and you may also lose certain Council Tax discounts.

It’s therefore a good time to take another look at your household budget and work out what these changes mean for you. Tools such as MoneyHelper's budget planner can help you see where your money is going and find ways to make it stretch further.

If you're worried about the cost of school, or changes to your household income, we’re here to help. Our advisers can help you understand what support may be available and work through your options.

Pop into our Diss office, visit one of our community outreach sessions, or make a request for advice through our website: https://cadat.org.uk/get-advice/request-for-advice/

10/08/2026

We’ve been absolutely delighted to see even more local growers sharing their fresh produce with members of our social supermarket, The Shelf – and just look at this fantastic haul of veggies and free-range eggs! 😍

This delicious donation of nutritious goodies was given by Grow East Anglia, a wonderful organisation that runs a community allotment, growing organic produce for The Shelf and local community fridges.

And it’s not just Grow East Anglia - these donations make up a whole host of generous contributions from local growers, who have recently shared their surplus with us. Thank you to everyone!

The Shelf, based in our main Diss office, offers a range of groceries and everyday essentials at affordable prices, as well as items and produce that might otherwise be wasted. It’s a great way to shop more sustainably and make your money go further. And, best of all, The Shelf is for everyone!

If you live locally, you can become a member for a small fee. Simply pop by during The Shelf’s opening hours, bring along your proof of address and sign up.

The Shelf is open:
Mondays 9.30am - 11.30am
Thursdays 9.30am - 11.30am
Fridays 12.30pm - 2.30pm

Thank you once again to Grow East Anglia and to all the individuals, organisations, businesses and volunteers who regularly give their products, funding and time to help make The Shelf such a valuable community service.

05/08/2026

📣 It's not too late to apply!

There's just one week left to apply for our new Learning & Development Officer role at Citizens Advice Diss, Thetford & District.

If you're passionate about supporting people to learn, develop and succeed, this is an exciting opportunity to help shape the training and development of our staff and volunteers, ensuring they have the skills and confidence to continue delivering the best support and advice possible to our communities.

📍 Hybrid role based from our Diss office, with outreach across Diss and Thetford
🕒 25 hours per week
📅 Fixed-term contract for two years
💷 £15.40 per hour

If you're looking for a rewarding role where no two days are the same, we'd love to hear from you.

For more information, please contact [email protected].

Application deadline: Wednesday 12 August
Interviews: Wednesday 26 August

Please help us spread the word by sharing this post with your networks.

03/08/2026

Thank you so much to the local growers who have been popping into The Shelf recently with donations of fresh fruit, vegetables and herbs.

From juicy apples to crisp greens, these delicious donations top up our supplies of healthy produce for people using our community grocery store.

The Shelf, based in our main Diss office, offers a wide range of groceries and everyday essentials at affordable prices, as well as items and produce that might otherwise be wasted.

It’s a great way to shop more sustainably and reduce the impact of the cost-of-living crisis and, best of all, it is for everyone!

If you live locally, for a small fee you can become a member of The Shelf. You don’t need a referral or have visited Citizens Advice before. Simply pop by during The Shelf’s opening hours, bring along your proof of address and sign up.

The Shelf’s opening hours are:

Mondays: 9.30am – 11.30am
Thursdays: 9.30am – 11.30am
Fridays: 12.30pm – 2.30pm

Thank you once again to our brilliant recent donors – and to all the individuals, organisations, businesses and volunteers who regularly offer their products, funding and time to ensure we can provide this valuable service.