CAR - Citizens Advice Reading

06/08/2026

This time last week our adviser Jenny attended the Health, Wellbeing and Benefits Fayre at the Royal Berkshire Hospital. This builds on our successful outreach programme at the Oasis Staff Health and Wellbeing centre, where hospital staff members can drop in for a chat, or book a face to face or telephone appointment, to discuss any issues they need support with.

It was great to attend this event and meet people from across the hospital to raise awareness of the range of support the Citizens Advice can provide to hospital staff. Jenny enjoyed spending time in their lovely staff and volunteer garden!

05/08/2026

Planning on taking a summer holiday this year? If you are receiving benefits, you may need to inform the DWP. To find out more, look at our Citizens Advice website or get help from our cost of living team: https://www.citizensadvicereading.org/get-help

01/07/2026

We're delighted to be launching a new outreach session in July! 🎉

We will be attending the Launchpad Work and Life Skills centre on Monday 6th and Monday 20th July as part of their monthly programme of workshops and support sessions. An outreach adviser will be running a drop-in session in the centre from 1 - 3pm, and will be able to give advice on the day or book a follow-up appointment. It's a great opportunity to provide support in a new area of Reading, ensuring that our service is accessible to everyone who needs our help.

Find our full programme of outreach events on the link below:

https://www.citizensadvicereading.org/about-us/find-us

18/06/2026

This Refugee Week we are supporting the valuable contributions that refugees and asylum seekers make in Reading. Reading has been a City of Sanctuary since 2015, helping to build a culture of hospitality across the borough for people seeking sanctuary.

Here at Citizens Advice Reading, we are proud to be . Our advice and support is for everyone, whether you are a refugee, an asylum seeker, or a citizen.

We provide a wide range of advice on benefits, debt, housing and more. We provide some basic immigration information (IAA level 1). Find out more about accessing our services on the link below ⬇️

https://www.citizensadvicereading.org/get-help

12/06/2026

Did you know that carers can access a free carer's assessment to get help and support tailored to their needs?

This , we want to make sure all unpaid carers across Reading access the support and help they need. Check out our guide for accessing a carers assessment, or send it to someone you know who needs help.

At Citizens Advice Reading, we can help carers with a wide range of issues, including benefits, debt, cost of living, housing. Find out how to get in touch with us on the link below:

https://www.citizensadvicereading.org/get-help

04/06/2026

Today for we are spotlighting our brilliant reception and administration team! Hear what they think about volunteering with us below ⬇️

Our admin volunteers are the first to greet people who visit our Minster Street office, ensuring that people access the right help and support. They also work behind the scenes and are responsible for booking appointments, sending emails and documents, managing our referrals, and so much more. We are so grateful for the time and energy this team gives us each week, and we want to say a huge thank you! 🌟 🌟 🌟

Interested in volunteering with us? Check out the link below for our current opportunities:

https://www.citizensadvicereading.org/join-us

02/06/2026

Our next volunteer profile is on one of our debt caseworkers. Our debt caseworkers help people find resolutions to complicated debt problems, enabling them to solve their issues and move on with their life.

Shirl's patience and determination has made a huge difference to the lives of many people, so we want to say a huge thank you!

02/06/2026

This week we are celebrating Volunteers Week! Each week, our incredible volunteers give their time, expertise and energy to run our service. This dedication enables us to reach many more people than we would otherwise be able to, and we are so grateful for their support.

Andrew volunteers as the Treasurer on our Board of Trustees. We spoke to him about the difference volunteering at Citizens Advice Reading makes to his life: read his reflections below ⬇️

20/05/2026

We want to hear your advice!

We were out and about this weekend at The University of Reading's ‘Sanctuary Fair’ in Forbury Gardens. This new annual community event is hosted in partnership with Reading City of Sanctuary to celebrate local charities, community groups, and sanctuary seekers.

We asked people to share the best advice they’d ever received, and tell us about some of the key issues affecting their lives. People raised a wide range of concerns, from the importance of mental health support, to the growing flood risk affecting homes and businesses. This was a great opportunity to speak with all the residents of Reading — not just those who walk through our front door.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?

11/05/2026

We are delighted to be offering an advice drop-in at Prospect Park hospital to support their staff members with the pressures of day-to-day life. Every other Friday, one of our advisers visits Prospect Park hospital from 10am - 5pm. Staff can either drop-in for advice or book an appointment in advance.

This expands on our successful partnership with the Royal Berkshire Hospital, where we offer drop-in advice and appointments each Monday in the Oasis Staff Wellbeing Centre. This service enables busy staff members to easily access advice and support during their working hours. Staff who speak to our adviser are welcome to come back to the service whenever they need some support or guidance, providing a consistent presence that enables them to feel supported by their work.

With the cost of living crisis affecting us all, this service has been a real lifeline. Staff who have fully engaged with the service have seen some meaningful financial wins, taking the pressure off at a time when every penny counts.

Our staff can now access on site, confidential advice from Citizens Advice, funded by Berkshire Healthcare Charity.

From money worries to housing, benefits or family matters, this service is here to support our staff with everyday pressures. Advice hubs are available on site at:
📍Prospect Park and Upton Hospital
📞or by phone

"This is exactly the kind of initiative our Charity is proud to fund, practical human support that aims to give back to the people who give so much to our community." Jo Ramsay, Charity Manager. 💜

Find out more about the work of our Charity and how you can support it. Search 'Charity' on our website.
CAR - Citizens Advice Reading
Citizens Advice East Berkshire