Latest news from Citizens Advice
Volunteer
Ann Anthon wins Community Spirit Award
“I’m incredibly proud of the award, but I’m also proud of what it represents. It’s recognition not just for me, but for volunteering, community spirit and the work that Citizens Advice does every day.”
For more than three decades, Ann Anthon has dedicated her time to helping people across Calderdale through her work with Citizens Advice.
From supporting people through debt, housing and benefits issues to helping them find hope during difficult times, Ann’s commitment to her community has touched countless lives.
Following her Outstanding Individual Award win, CFFC sat down with Ann to reflect on her volunteering journey, the changes she has witnessed and what keeps her motivated after 34 years of service.
Check out her full interview on the news page of the CFFC website.
When asked the question ‘what do you wish more people understood about Citizens Advice?’ Ann replied “I wish people understood the full breadth of what we do. If you’ve never needed our services, you probably don’t realise how many different areas we cover. We help with everything from housing and debt to consumer rights and family matters. Our aim is always to empower people to help themselves wherever possible. Sometimes all someone needs is the right information, a phone number or guidance on where to go next.” How right you are Ann!
Our community outreach
We love getting out into the community and meeting amazing people.
If you’d like us to visit one of your groups, or to deliver some co-designed training, just use the contact us form and we’ll get right back to you.
We’ve given training on budgeting, energy saving and food waste too.
We’re also a bit partial to a good old fashioned ‘taste test’.
And where next?
Thank you
Wainstalls Community Action Group for inviting us to your Culture Cafe on Wednesday 19/8.
Thank you everyone we met at the Community Kitchen at the Mixenden Activity Centre on Thursday 6/8/2026.
Amazing people and a fabulous veg stew.
Our social policy work
We aim to improve the policies and practices that affect people’s lives through our 5 principles of independence: impartiality, free advice, confidentiality and accountability.
Calderdale Citizens Advice believes in fairness, and it is important we advocate for a moral equitable society. Ensuring policies and practices are practical and equitable has a massive impact locally and makes a real difference to people’s lives.
Our latest work
The Timms Review
The Timms Review is a government led, co-produced inquiry into Personal Independence Payment (PIP), with the aim to ensure that it is ‘fair and fit for the future’.
PIP was designed to support people’s health, independence, and employment opportunities, and has never been fully reviewed since its introduction in 2013.
The Timms review was launched in 2025 by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and co-chaired by Sir Stephen Timms (Minister for Social Security and Disability).
The review aims to focus on fairness, accuracy, consistency, and accessibility, in the context of PIPs sustainability and alignment with wider welfare reform.
Co-production of the research includes engaging disabled people, their organisations, carers, clinicians, MPs, and other stakeholders.
With over 75% of our clients self-defining as long-term sick or disabled, we consider ourselves to be a significant stakeholder within Calderdale, and as such have participated in sending feedback in both May and July.
The July feedback using the ‘workshop in a box’ structure has also been forwarded to the Policy Research Team at national Citizens Advice where it will become part of their ongoing social policy work.