Citizens' Advice Bureaux

Citizens advice bureaux are the largest single voluntary source of information and advice in the UK. But who uses them and why? How are they staffed and what do their workers expect to achieve in an increasingly complex society? Judith Citron supplies the answers to these questions in a fascinating profile of one of Britain's most vital voluntary organisations - at a time when the demands and calls on its service have never been greater. She examines the conflicts, tensions and frustrations within the organisation - and the curious relationship between the bureaux and central government. The CAB depend on government funding to survive - but they function most effectively as high-profile critics of government policy. Most of their problems arise as a direct result of changes in government policy - but the lessons learnt as a result of bureaux experience have a direct bearing on the shaping of that policy, coming as they do from front-line involvement in policy implementation.