Citizens Advice Bureaux have come a long way since the 1930s when the “Citizens Aid Bureaux” were part of the plans to help the population in the event of war. When World War II was declared in 1939 the CAB Service opened to give advice about evacuation, allowances and pensions, and helped to trace soldiers lost in battle or taken as prisoners of war. Bureaux were then seen as a short term measure but it was clear that when the war ended there were many more problems for the population as the government tackled re-housing, employment and re-deployment, training and education, and the introduction of welfare benefits.
Continuous changes in society have meant that the CAB Service has had to continually change and adapt to meet new needs and to widen its information base. Our information system is continually updated to take account of new legislation as it is passed. This allows us to provide up to date information and advice.
Citizens Advice service in Edinburgh recently celebrated its 70th birthday in 2009. It dates back to the outbreak of the Second World War and its staff and volunteers have been providing free advice ever since. Whilst Citizens Advice Edinburgh is an independent charity, it is part of a national voluntary advice service, Citizens Advice Scotland (“CAS”), which has around 70 member bureaux.