About Us
The History of Citizens Advice
A year before, with a World War looming, the National Council of Social Services (the forerunner of today’s National Council of Voluntary Organisations) established a group to look at meeting civilians needs during war time.
Citizens Advice opened in 200 locations the day after war was declared. Over the next few years, our locations grew from 200 to over 1,000 across England and Wales. Dedicated advisers helped members of the public with problems as diverse as loss of ration books, homelessness and evacuation. They even helped locate missing relatives and prisoners of war.
‘The Citizens Advice Bureaux (as it was then known) make the world appear to many citizens in distress to contain some element of reason and friendship. The adviser at a Citizens Advice Bureau is only a fellow citizen with time and knowledge and, if he is worthy of his position, with infinite patience.’
Lord Beveridge, 1948.
Citizens Advice celebrated its 80th anniversary on 4 September 2019.
If you would like to read more about the history of Citizens Advice, please have a read of this extensive publication ‘A story of Influence Brasnett, Richards and Citron (2009). It covers why it was first setup, it’s twin aims of advice and influence and key milestones. Please read here.
Also, the Imperial War Museum released a short film from the ministry for information entitled ‘Ask C.A.B’, released in 1942. It gives some insight as to the issues people were facing then and in some instances still do. Please watch here.
Citizens Advice Bromley
There has been a Citizens Advice in Bromley since 1940 It was first based in the Chislehurst Caves during the Second World War and in 1966 it moved to Palace Grove and provided help and assistance for residents in both Bromley and Chislehurst. In 1982 the bureau moved to Tweedy Road to provide a larger service for Bromley residents and workers and in 2000 the bureau moved to the current premises in Community House.