STAFF at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust (RBFT) will continue to benefit from on-site support from Citizens Advice Reading for a further 12 months, thanks to continued funding from the Royal Berks Charity.
The partnership, which began in October 2023, makes RBFT one of the only NHS Trusts in the country to offer a dedicated Citizens Advice service to its workforce.
The service provides face-to-face appointments one day a week at the Oasis Staff Health & Wellbeing Centre, as well as remote advice for staff across all sites by telephone.
Following its success, Royal Berks Charity will fund the service until August 2026, reinforcing the Trust’s commitment to supporting staff health, wellbeing, and financial security.
Since launching, the service has supported 166 staff members, addressed 868 issues across 254 appointments, and delivered more than £119,000 in financial gains for staff.
On average, those who fully engage with the service benefit by over £950 per year.
The most common areas of support include benefits and tax credits, housing, family and relationship matters, employment, and legal issues.
Citizens Advice has also helped staff access food bank parcels, claim unclaimed benefits, manage debt more effectively, access legal guidance, and recover overpaid taxes and rebates.
The impact of the service is demonstrated through real stories.
One staff member, for example, improved their budget by more than £7,300 a year through benefits advice, energy support, and council tax reduction.
They also received help managing debt and avoiding enforcement action, sharing: “The service was quick and thorough… the advice I received was exactly what I needed to get back on track.”
In another case, a staff member faced a £1,800 council tax bill and a court order for a property they no longer lived in.
Citizens Advice helped them prove they were not liable, resulting in the charges being dropped. They also received signposting for immigration support and praised the advisor for being “very patient” and providing an “in-depth conversation.”
