Our Research and Campaigns work
As well as giving advice and information, we are equally committed to campaigning for change when policies and practices are adversely affecting people’s lives. We use our clients’ experiences, stories and evidence to influence positive change and tackle the root causes of problems and issues. Long term changes benefit everyone.
As part of our Research and Campaigns work, our advisers are trained to recognise unfairness and injustice in individual situations which may also affect others in a similar position. The evidence is collected and is then used in our campaigning work, both locally and nationally.
We work across Central Dorset and with colleagues in other Dorset offices, and contribute to national policy work. Raising issues is done in various ways, including writing reports, setting up surveys on specific issues, or writing to relevant parties including MPs. More information on our national Policy work is available here.
If you are interested in finding out more, get in touch!
Autumn 2023: We are currently working on several hot topics:
- Access to banking services and cash, especially in the face of more local branch closures.
- Housing issues, including affordability for private tenants, especially those facing rent increases but getting insufficient help through the benefit system because the ‘Local Housing Allowance’ rates are frozen.
- Personal Independence Payment: long delays by the DWP processing claims and also long delays from the Tribunal Service if people need to appeal a decision.
- Energy issues: struggling to pay debts, problems contacting suppliers, and forced fitting of PrePayment Meters.