Hamilton Citizens Advice Bureau

25/08/2026

⚡ Does something not look right with your energy bill?

Energy bills aren't always easy to understand, and sometimes it can be difficult to know whether you're being charged the right amount.

Maybe you've:
🧾 Received a much larger bill than you expected
💷 Been asked to pay an amount you don't understand
⚡ Had problems with your prepayment meter
🤔 Wondered if you're paying too much into your meter

Our energy advisers can help you understand your bills, look at problems with your meter, and explore what you can do next.

👉 Get in touch with us to speak to an energy adviser

📞 01698 283477
🌐 https://hamiltoncab.cas.org.uk/get-advice/contact-us

21/08/2026

💡 Energy debt isn't always something you can just budget your way out of, and there may be support available that you don't know about.

From hardship funds and grants to help with prepayment meters and emergency fuel costs, there are different forms of support available depending on your circumstances.

On our blogsite we've put together a practical local guide to energy debt help, explaining some of the support that's out there and where to start if you're struggling.
👉 Find out what help may be available:
🔗 https://www.hamiltoncab-blog.org/post/support-that-people-don-t-know-exists-a-hamilton-guide-to-energy-debt-help

And if you'd rather talk things through with someone, Hamilton Citizens Advice can help you look at your options.

Our advice is free, confidential, and impartial. 💙

Across Hamilton and South Lanarkshire, thousands of families are struggling with energy debt, and many don't know about the range of help that’s available.Almost one in five (19%) Scottish households are now in energy debt or arrears, which is more than double the 9% recorded in 2024. And debt isn...

19/08/2026

Energy bills don't stop being a worry in the warmer months 💸

For many people, energy costs and energy debt are a year-round concern. If your bills are starting to mount up, or you're worried about keeping on top of what you owe, you don't have to wait until things reach crisis point before asking for help.

At Hamilton Citizens Advice Bureau, our advisers can help you understand your energy bills, look at energy debt and explore other financial support you may be entitled to.

Our advice is free, impartial and confidential.

Get in touch with us if you're worried about your energy bills. We're here to help 👉
📞 01698 283477
🌐 https://hamiltoncab.cas.org.uk/get-advice/contact-us

14/08/2026

🎥 Money Tips in 60 Seconds

We're rounding off our Youth Focus Week with a video created by one of our young volunteers! 💙

Our 18-year-old volunteer Orla took the lead on this one, interviewing Carol, one of our long-standing volunteer advisers, to get her top money tips for young people.

From knowing when to ask for help to understanding the support that may be available, a little bit of knowledge early on can make a big difference.

A huge thank you to Orla for planning, filming and editing the video, and to Carol for sharing her advice and experience. 👏

And remember, you don't need to wait until a money worry becomes a crisis before asking for advice.
Hamilton CAB offers free, confidential and independent advice to people aged 16+.

12/08/2026

💙 It's , and we're talking about Universal Credit.

New research from The Poverty Alliance has listened to young adults in Scotland about their experiences of claiming Universal Credit, highlighting the difficulties many face navigating the system.

The research identifies barriers including limited information and support, the five-week wait for a first payment and the lower standard allowance for people under 25.

For young people already navigating work, education, independence, housing and everyday living costs, getting the right support matters.

At Hamilton CAB, we can help you understand what you're entitled to, make or manage a claim, and challenge a decision if you think something isn't right.
Our advice is free, confidential and independent, and we're here for people aged 16+.

🎥 Today's video was inspired by this important new research
🔗 https://www.povertyalliance.org/research-experiences-of-young-adults-claiming-universal-credit/

10/08/2026

Think Citizens Advice isn't for you? 🤔

Many young people are surprised to discover what Citizens Advice can help with. Common misconceptions include thinking it's only for older people, that advice costs money, or that you have to be facing a serious crisis before asking for help.

The reality is very different.

If you're 16 or over, we can help with things like:

🌟Employment rights
✨Money and benefits
🌟Housing and renting
✨Starting your first job
✨Energy and household bills

As part of our Youth Focus Week, we're sharing some of the ways Hamilton CAB can support young people to understand their rights and get the help they need.

You don't have to wait until things become overwhelming. Getting advice early can make all the difference.

📞 01698 283477
🌐 https://bit.ly/49jV171

Please share this post to help more young people know where they can turn for free, confidential, and independent advice.

06/08/2026

📍 Where should people be able to access advice?

We're asking local people how and where they'd like to access advice services in the future.

From the 40 responses we've received so far:

🏥 45% would like advice available in GP surgeries.
📚 35% would like advice in libraries.
🏘️ 32.5% would like advice in community centres.

We've also heard suggestions for schools and foodbanks.

Do these results reflect your views, or would you choose somewhere different?

Whether you've used our advice service before or not, we'd love to hear from you. Your feedback will help us improve access to advice, shape future services and strengthen future funding applications.

👉 Complete our survey here: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/a0HSG2cg2p
Please share this post to help us hear from more people across our community.

23/07/2026

People support people 💪
This week we've shared the difference advice makes in people's lives.

At Hamilton CAB, our team is at the heart of everything we do.
Karen, our Session Supervisor, perfectly captures why so many of us do this work.
Helping someone leave feeling relieved, more confident and better equipped to deal with life's challenges is what makes every day worthwhile.

It's our people, alongside our volunteers, partners and supporters, who help make free, independent advice possible for our community.

Behind every conversation and every successful outcome is someone who chose to make a difference 🫶

💛 Advice Opens Doors.

21/07/2026

💛 Advice Opens Doors... to rebuilding lives.

Last week, we celebrated the many people, organisations and partners who help make Hamilton CAB possible.
This week, we want to show you why that support matters.

When Tom came to us, he had experienced homelessness and had no income, no bank account, and no reliable way of staying connected to services.

Our adviser worked alongside him to rebuild the foundations he needed to move forward.

Together we helped Tom to:
💙 access financial support
💙 open a bank account
💙 tackle rent arrears in his temporary accommodation
💙 address his energy debt
💙 reconnect with essential services
💙 begin rebuilding financial stability

Advice often isn't just about solving one problem.

Sometimes it's about helping someone rebuild their life.

💛 Advice Opens Doors.

15/07/2026

💙 As we round off Social Media Giving Day...

Today we've celebrated the people, partnerships and community support that make free, independent advice possible.

As we look to the future, we're excited to grow the ways local people, businesses and organisations can support Hamilton CAB and help strengthen access to free, independent advice.

💙 Support looks different for everyone.

Whoever you are, there are lots of ways you can help:

💬 Tell someone about our services
🙋 Volunteer your time and skills
💙 Become a regular supporter
🎉 Host a fundraising event
📣 Champion our work in your community
🤝 Explore a corporate partnership
🎁 Consider leaving a gift in your Will
📲 Share our work on social media

👇 If you'd like to find out more about supporting Hamilton CAB, we'd love to hear from you.

📧 [email protected]
☎️ 01698 286400
🌐 https://hamiltoncab.cas.org.uk/get-advice/contact-us

💛 Advice Opens Doors