It has ‘not been able to secure funding for some services’ but says frontline services will not be affected
The Wilson Centre in Alfred Gelder Street(Image: jaharland)
A vital Hull charity has announced that jobs are set to go amid a fall in funding. Hull and East Riding Citizens Advice Bureau – which has been offering free advice since 1939 – has confirmed that a number of redundancies are to be made as part of a restructure of its services.
It is not known how many jobs will be lost, but the service currently has 111 members of staff as well as 113 volunteers – already a marked drop on the 122 employees and 124 volunteers it had in the 2023/24 financial year.
The charity, part of the national network of Citizens Advice Bureaux, has four permanent bases in Hull, Beverley, Bridlington and Goole as well as advisers working at more than 30 outreach locations across the area. The restructure is being carried out after it failed to secure funding “for some services” for the financial year 2026 to 2027.
The organisation secures funding through a raft of sources including Government contracts, grants, and donations. It also works closely with local councils, housing providers, foodbanks, NHS services, and community organisations, in moves to make sure people get the support they need across a range of teams and projects.
The charity, registered at The Wilson Centre in Alfred Gelder Street, Hull, provides free, confidential, and impartial advice to help people find a way forward with their problems. And the restructure comes at a time when its services are needed more than ever, with its most recent annual report describing how the cost-of-living crisis is continuing to put a squeeze on households across the region.
In the last year, the charity supported 24,349 clients with more than 112,000 issues – the equivalent to one issue every 4.7 minutes. The top issues were Debt 21%, Universal Credit 20%, Benefits and Tax Credits 18%, Financial Services and Capability 10%.
In its most recent annual report, filed at the Charity Commission last month and covering the year ended March 2025, James Doyle, chair of the trustee board, said: “The cost-of-living crisis has continued to impact households across Hull and the East Riding, with many people facing impossible choices about heating, eating, and keeping a roof over their heads. Against this backdrop, demand for our services has grown more complex and urgent.”
Katherine Nickolds, head of Generalist Advice Services at Citizens Advice Hull and East Riding confirmed job cuts are being made, but stressed that its frontline services will be unaffected.
She said: “While future funding is never guaranteed, we are disappointed that we have not been able to secure funding for some services for the financial year 2026 to 2027. As a charity funding enables us to make a real difference in the lives of people in Hull and East Riding.
“Our top priority is always the people who need us. At Citizens Advice Hull and East Riding our advisers are seeing increasing numbers of people in dire situations where the money they have coming in just isn’t enough to pay for basics like housing, energy and food. Our advice services have never been more needed as we help people find a way forward.
“We have had to make some difficult decisions. We are pleased to say there are no changes to our frontline services across Hull or the East Riding. Ensuring our clients will still be able to access the same high-quality service.
“Upon learning some funding wouldn’t continue next year we’ve consulted with staff about a restructure which will unfortunately result in some redundancies. This is an ongoing process, and we’ll always communicate with colleagues affected first. It will not affect our frontline services, so those we help will still get the same level of service.”
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