Citizens Advice East Suffolk

What Citizens Advice East Suffolk does

Citizens Advice East Suffolk (legal entity: Citizens Advice East Suffolk Ltd) is an independent registered charity (Charity Number 1115522) and company limited by guarantee (Company Registration number 5866861) operating as part of the national Citizens Advice network. Founded in 1965, the charity is headquartered in Lowestoft, Suffolk, and delivers free, independent, confidential and impartial advice to residents across East Suffolk. It is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA Authorisation Number: FRN617682) and registered with the Information Commissioner's Office (Z9418753).

The charity operates through five main advice offices (Beccles, Felixstowe, Leiston, Lowestoft, and Woodbridge) and eight drop-in outreach centres (Bungay, Framlingham, Halesworth, Kesgrave, Kessingland, Saxmundham, Southwold, Wickham Market), supplemented by a telephone advice line (0808 278 7866, Monday–Friday 10am–2pm), an email enquiry service, and an online self-help portal. Core service lines include general advice, debt advice, and an Energy Advice Hub (including the Net Zero Leiston initiative and Surviving Winter Appeal). All services are provided free of charge to the public.

The business model is non-commercial: revenue is sourced from charitable donations (public and local business) and public/grant funding routed through the Citizens Advice network. The organisation relies on a small paid staff (6 listed employees) supplemented by volunteers to deliver advice across 13 locations. No proprietary technology systems, APIs, or digital product platforms are disclosed; service delivery is fundamentally human-advisor-led with light digital self-help resources.

Name

Citizens Advice East Suffolk

Legal name

Citizens Advice East Suffolk Ltd

Website

https://caes.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Citizens Advice East Suffolk is a registered charity providing free, FCA-authorised advice on debt, energy, and consumer issues to residents across East Suffolk through 5 offices, 8 outreach centres, and remote channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Consumer Advisory Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (62419)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAEAK

Financial Assistance & Benefits Navigation Services

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Social Services & Community Support (Food, Housing, Family)

Keywords

• Free legal advice
• Debt counselling
• Consumer rights advice
• Energy advice services
• Community advisory services

Headquarters

HQ city

Lowestoft

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices13 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Charitable Donations: The organization accepts donations from the public and local businesses to support its operations. A donation mechanism is available on the website.
2. Public/Grant Funding: As a registered charity operating within the Citizens Advice network, the organization receives funding from public sources and grants to maintain free advisory services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Citizens Advice East Suffolk provides free, independent, confidential and impartial advice to the public across East Suffolk. Core services include general advice, debt counselling, energy advice, and consumer rights guidance delivered through an advice line, online self-help portal, email service, and face-to-face consultations at five offices and nine outreach centres. Specialised programmes cover the Energy Advice Hub, Net Zero Leiston community initiative, and the Surviving Winter Appeal.

Product overview

Citizens Advice East Suffolk operates as a single integrated advice service offering multiple delivery channels for free, independent, confidential and impartial advice. The core offerings include an Adviceline (telephone service), Self Help (online resources), Email Service (web-based enquiry form), and Face to Face Advice at regional offices. Specialized services include Debt Advice, an Energy Advice Hub (including Net Zero Leiston initiative), and the Surviving Winter Appeal charitable initiative. All services are provided free of charge through a network of offices in Beccles, Felixstowe, Leiston, Lowestoft, and Woodbridge, plus outreach centres across the East Suffolk region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Adviceline Telephone-based advice service available Monday to Friday 10am to 2pm, providing access to advisors for guidance on various issues including debt, consumer rights, and general problems. For members of the East Suffolk community.
• Self Help Online self-service portal providing information and resources for users to find answers and guidance independently on a range of advice topics. For individuals seeking self-directed access to advice information.
• Email Service Online contact form allowing clients to submit enquiries via email, with a commitment to respond within five days. For individuals who prefer remote, written communication.
• Face to Face Advice In-person advice consultations available at offices in Beccles, Felixstowe, Leiston, Lowestoft, and Woodbridge, plus drop-in outreach centres across the region. For local residents preferring face-to-face advisory consultations.
• Debt Advice Specialized advice service helping individuals manage and resolve debt-related issues. For residents of East Suffolk experiencing financial difficulties.
• Energy Advice Hub Dedicated service providing energy-related advice and support, including a new hub for people in Lowestoft to benefit from energy guidance. For residents facing energy cost or efficiency concerns.
• Net Zero Leiston Community-focused initiative supporting residents in the Leiston area with energy efficiency and net zero goals. For residents seeking guidance on reducing their carbon footprint and home energy use.
• Surviving Winter Appeal Seasonal campaign to support vulnerable community members during winter months with energy and heating assistance. For vulnerable East Suffolk residents needing winter support.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Citizens Advice NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCitizens Advice East Suffolk is an independent registered charity and part of the national Citizens Advice network. The network provides standardized advice frameworks, training, and operational support while allowing local offices to maintain regional autonomy.
• Hughes ElectricalminorOthersLocal business that donated two TVs to help clients access services and information through visual displays.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• MoneyHelper (Money and Pensions Service): UK government-backed free money and pensions guidance service. Comparable as a broad financial guidance and benefits navigation provider, with national scale and digital-first delivery competing for the same client base.
• Citizens Advice (national): The national umbrella organization of which Citizens Advice East Suffolk is a member. Provides the same standardized advice frameworks, training, and brand, but operates at a national scale with broader funding and policy influence.

Direct peers

• Christians Against Poverty (CAP): UK charity providing free debt advice, money coaching, and related support services. Comparable service model targeting financially vulnerable households, with regional delivery partnerships and FCA authorisation.
• Turn2us: UK charity helping people in financial hardship access benefits, grants, and support. Comparable mission in benefits navigation and financial assistance, overlapping with Citizens Advice East Suffolk's debt and benefits advisory work.
• StepChange Debt Charity: National UK debt advice charity offering free, FCA-authorised debt counseling via phone and online. Directly comparable as a specialist debt advice provider serving overlapping client demographics across the UK.
• Shelter: UK charity providing free housing advice, debt help, and homelessness prevention. Comparable nonprofit advice model serving vulnerable populations across multiple channels with national brand and local service delivery.
• Citizens Advice Norfolk: Neighboring local Citizens Advice charity covering Norfolk. Closest geographic peer running the same multi-channel advice model in a comparable rural/coastal English region with overlapping client challenges.
• National Debtline: Free, independent debt advice service funded by the Money and Pensions Service. Directly comparable as a debt-focused advisory charity serving UK consumers, including those in East Suffolk.
• Citizens Advice Ipswich: Adjacent local Citizens Advice charity covering Ipswich and surrounding Suffolk area. Offers the same core services (debt, benefits, consumer advice) under the same network model, but with its own regional reach and governance.

Regional players

• Age UK Suffolk: Local Age UK charity serving Suffolk with advice on benefits, housing, and wellbeing for older people. Comparable regional charity model with multi-channel service delivery targeting overlapping vulnerable demographics in adjacent geography.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CitizensAdviceEastSuffolk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/citizens-advice-east-suffolk

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Citizens Advice East Suffolk