For 85 years, Citizens Advice has been helping people find a way forward.

Whoever you are, whatever your problem – they are there to help with free, confidential, impartial advice.

The service was first set up in 1939 at the start of the Second World War.

At the time, they were set up as a new nationwide advisory service which would help people navigate the uncertainty, chaos and challenges of wartime.

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It was previously run out of a horsebox (Image: Citizens Advice Test Valley) Andover had a service in the war which closed in 1947 but it reopened in 1966 and Romsey joined them with an office opening in 1976.

In 2014, we merged to become Citizens Advice Test Valley, maintaining an office in each town.

Over the years, we have helped many clients through difficult times.

In 1997 we introduced our first website and although it has changed since then, it is jam-packed with expert advice on a whole range of topics. Check it out at citizensadvice.org.uk.

Volunteers have been at the heart of our service, giving their time to help people find a way forward with their issues.

From taking to the streets in horseboxes during wartime to giving advice from home during the pandemic – we couldn’t do what we do without our incredible volunteers.

Could you join us?

Find out more about volunteering at Citizens Advice Test Valley by checking out our local website testvalleycab.org.uk.

To celebrate the anniversary this year, we had a get-together of staff, trustees, and volunteers who enjoyed some fantastic food, a quiz, and generally chatting together about how things have changed in the last 85 years.