ABOUT US
WHO WE ARE?
Community Advice Ards and North Down (formerly known as Citizen’s Advice) is the leading advice agency in The Ards and North Down Area.
We were formed in 1975 and since then, we have helped thousands of people resolve many issues/problems. Including debt, social security benefits, housing, legal, health, discrimination, employments, immigration, tax, relationship and consumer issues. We have also represented thousands of people at Social Security Appeal Hearings, with an 85% success rate.
We aim to provide the advice people need for the problems they face and improve the policies and practice that affect people’s lives.
We provide a free, independent, confidential, and impartial advice service to everyone by offering advice, help and support.
We value diversity, promote equality and challenge discrimination and social injustices impacting on our community.
We have four main offices , located in Bangor, Newtownards Holywood and The Ulster Hospital, Dundonald. We are members of Advice NI ,with numerous outreach clinics held throughout The Ards and North Down area.
Community Advice Ards and North Down (CAAND) is a registered charity, with highly trained advisers (both paid and volunteers).We are funded by Ards and North Down Borough Council, The Department for Communities, MacMillan Cancer Support, The National Lottery Community Fund and The Halifax Foundation.
OUR PRINCIPLES:
Community Advice service is independent and provides free, confidential and impartial advice to everybody regardless of race, gender, sexuality, age, nationality, disability or religion:
- Independent – Community Advice is an independent charity working in partnership with others to improve access to advice;
- Free – Community Advice services are free;
- Confidential – the client’s visit and the nature of their enquiry are not divulged to anyone outside Community Advice;
- Impartial – Community Advice puts the client’s interest first and provides information, advice and assistance to enable people to make informed decisions.
OUR AIMS:
- To ensure that individuals do not suffer through lack of knowledge of their rights and responsibilities or of the services available to them, or through an inability to express their needs effectively;
- To exercise a responsible influence on the development of social policies and services, both locally and nationally.
Ask Community Advice Ards and North Down to resolve the problem
It’s important for us to know what we’ve done wrong, so we can do our best to put it right. Don’t be afraid to speak to the Service Manager in your the Ards, Bangor or Holywood office. They will often be able to solve the problem straight away. If they can’t, or you’re still not happy, you can make a formal complaint.
Asking for a review
If you feel we haven’t dealt with your complaint properly, or you aren’t satisfied with the outcome, you can ask us to review the decision. Please make sure you ask for this within five days of receiving the decision. This review will be carried out by the Executive Director of Community Advice. This will be acknowledged within 5 working days. Once this has been completed a copy of the Community Advice review will be sent to you and the Community Advice Ards and North Down Chair.