We are a small charity that makes a big impact. Our purpose is to improve the lives of people in need of advice. We do this by supporting our members, so it is easier for them to help their clients, and by directly influencing policy-makers, decision-makers and funders.
OUR VISION
Our vision is a society wherein every individual, regardless of means, is able to access the advice they need in order to exercise their rights and deal with any legal and social welfare problems they may face.
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to support advice organisations, by helping them to be efficient, competent and effective, and to campaign for a policy environment that supports advice agencies and people needing advice.
OUR IMPACT
Annually, our work supports our members to advise over 1.7m people on a diverse range of issues including debt, housing, benefits and immigration problems and provide support for specific communities including students, disabled people and people experiencing domestic violence.
700
AdviceUK Members
1700000
Clients offered free advice by our members
We continuously invest in the systems and processes that help us to measure our impact. We are increasingly an evidence-based organisation, measuring what matters and using data alongside other evidence e.g. member feedback, quantitative and qualitative research; to assess our impact and drive our decision-making.
In 2024 we have, among many things:
Welcomed 41 new members who now benefit from the support and expertise of our network
Retained 93.5% of our members, with those who left doing so because of closure or funding constraints
Secured and, by the end of March, will have directly delivered £2,294,475 of funding to advice services including our members
In 2024, our members provided free, independent advice to over 2.8 million people.
OUR VALUES
We are fair
We support people and show empathy
We are open, transparent and responsible
We promote diversity and inclusion
We are independent
We challenge where change is needed
We stand up for what we believe in
We celebrate the uniqueness of AdviceUK and our members.
We are collaborative
We work together to achieve shared goals
We build trusted relationships
We listen with an open mind, adopt a flexible and pragmatic approach
We are creative
We are bold and dynamic in our approach
We reflect and learn from experience
We develop solutions and support based on evidence
OUR STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
Support
our members and, through them, the communities they serve
We do this by:
Listening to and involving members in how we shape the support we provide for their advice-giving needs
Providing benefits and services that strengthen and sustain community-based advice giving
Advocate
for our members and through them, the communities they serve.
We do this by:
Working with members and stakeholders; understanding what’s important to them and, where needed, championing change
Representing and raising awareness of our members collectively: in ways that value their diversity and independence.
Connect
our members with each other and key stakeholders.
We do this by:
Nurturing collaboration, peer support and shared learning, building long-term partnerships.
Developing and sustaining diverse networks that benefit members and stakeholders.
Innovate
leading change that improves people’s lives and strengthens community advice
We do this by
Developing and facilitating better ways of giving and resourcing advice that improve the lives of people with legal and social welfare problems.
Providing members with advice and insight into new ideas and emerging trends
OUR FUTURE
With a new three-year strategy (2024-2027) and the Board has made a significant investment in our capacity, new support services as well as innovation. We are excited about the next stage of AdviceUK’s journey and determined to deliver the support and advice that members, the wider advice sector and their communities need. Among the highlights will be:
Support
our members and, through them, the communities they serve
We will be:
Launching a new wellbeing and health service benefit for our members who tell us their work can be difficult and stressful
Growing our membership, with an initial focus on reaching more advice services in the housing sector
Improving our learning and skills support to members and the wider advice sector
Advocate
for our members and through them, the communities they serve.
We will be:
Influencing funders to secure more funds for members and other advice services
Launching a new #AdviceSaves campaign, to raise awareness of our members’ vital services and to campaign for more support. This will include the first ever Advice Week.
Supporting a number of grant programmes, working with members, Scottish Government, London Funders and others
Working with members and others to provide solutions to the workforce challenges faced by the advice sector
Connect
our members with each other and key stakeholders.
We will be:
Developing new peer-to-peer online communities for our members, so they can connect, share and learn together
Growing the range of online forums and face-to-face events we provide for members
Innovate
leading change that improves people’s lives and strengthens community advice
We will be:
Growing our understanding and use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a charity
Developing AI guidance, support & services for members.
Continuing to improve and develop the quality of the data we gather from members and potential members
Growing our use of personalisation within our communications with members and stakeholders
Our Team
Meet the team at AdviceUK and get in touch.
Support Us
Could you help support the vital work of our members?
