Saltash Citizens Advice drop-in paused as volunteers run short

Walk into the Citizens Advice centre in Saltash hoping for a quick chat this autumn and you’ll need to have booked first. The town’s drop-in service has been paused for now, and the reason comes down to people. Not enough of them are volunteering.

The update came at the Saltash Town Council meeting on 3 September 2026, when a representative from Citizens Advice Cornwall (CAC) talked councillors through how the service is running locally.

245 Saltash residents helped in a year

Wailim Wong, Communications Officer for CAC, told the meeting that between April 2025 and March 2026 the organisation helped 245 clients from Saltash.

Most of the issues were complex. Universal Credit and benefits came up most often, along with debt, housing, charitable support and fuel poverty.

CAC reported that residents had gained significant income through successful benefit claims, grant applications and debt relief.

Town councillors noted ongoing concerns about housing difficulties and homelessness in Saltash. They also noted that financial hardship falls disproportionately on disabled residents.

Why the drop-in has stopped

Problems like these are often tangled together, and untangling them takes dedicated time and support. With limited volunteer availability, CAC has temporarily suspended the Saltash drop-in service. It intends to bring it back in future.

The Saltash centre is still open for pre-booked face-to-face appointments.

How to get help now

• Phone: 0808 812 7156
• Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm
• Face-to-face: pre-booked appointments at the Saltash centre

Volunteers wanted across Cornwall

The drop-in, and CAC’s partnerships with local organisations such as the Foodbank and healthcare providers, all depend on having enough local volunteers.

To keep up with rising demand, CAC is recruiting more volunteer advisers and plans a wider presence across the county. It is looking for people all over Cornwall, particularly around its Saltash, Liskeard, Truro and Camborne offices.

A full role specification is on the Citizens Advice Cornwall website. Anyone interested can email [email protected].

What the Mayor said

Saltash Town Council says its support for CAC is part of an ongoing commitment to health and wellbeing in the town, and to making sure good services are there for people who live in, work in and visit Saltash.

Mayor Cllr Brian Stoyel said: “Citizens Advice Cornwall provides an invaluable service to residents facing a wide range of challenges, from financial hardship and housing concerns to accessing benefits and support. The figures shared with the Town Council demonstrate the real difference their work makes to people across our community. I would like to thank Citizens Advice Cornwall staff and volunteers for their dedication and encourage anyone who can spare the time to consider volunteering and supporting this vital service.”