Posts by Dawn Warwick
Debt Awareness Week
Debt can affect anyone. Yet the shame people feel around it often prevents them from getting the support they need. 50% of people in the UK have experienced problem debt at some point in their lives. But stigma keeps people silent – while many say they would talk about money worries, almost half (44%) of…
Read MoreCitizens Advice Epping Forest receives National Lottery grant as demand for help continues to rise
Grant Boost Citizens Advice Epping Forest District has received funding from the National Lottery’s Awards for All programme to help support its volunteer service, at a time when demand for advice across the district continues to increase and financial pressures on the charity remain. The grant, awarded in September 2025, will support the recruitment…
Read MoreThe Renters Reform Bill
The Renters Reform Bill 23 Dec This is a summary of the the main changes arising from the Renters Right Act 2025 and how they will affect tenants in the private rental sector. The Renters Reform Bill, first introduced to Parliament in September 2024 under the previous Conservative Government, was designed to give tenants greater…
Read MoreWinter Fuel Payment Scam
Winter Fuel Payments are made automatically, and the government will never request bank details via text. Pensioners warned to stay alert as winter fuel payment scams surge by over 150% Pensioners are being warned to look out for Winter Fuel Payment text message scams following a surge in activity from opportunistic criminals ahead of next…
Read MoreCitizens Advice response to Govt announcement on Winter Fuel Payment June 2025
Winter Fuel Payment 9 June 2025 Responding to the announcement Tom MacInnes, Director of Policy at Citizens Advice, said: “It’s good news that the government is returning winter fuel payments to low-income pensioners, without needing to access Pension Credit first. This will provide straight-forward, vital support to nine million pensioners this winter. “We’ve made the…
Read MoreTrading Standards information
Trading Standards useful information If you think a business has broken the law or acted unfairly, you can report them to Trading Standards. Trading Standards use the information you give them to investigate unfair trading and illegal business activity, like rogue traders and scams. Trading Standards can take businesses to court or stop them operating,…
Read MoreGeorge’s Story
George is a 78-year-old man living in a modest social housing flat in a quiet neighborhood. For over 50 years, he shared his life with his wife, Margaret. She was his rock, taking care of the household finances and ensuring everything ran smoothly. But when Margaret passed away suddenly six months ago, George’s world turned…
Read MoreMargaret’s Hidden Struggle
Margaret is an 82-year-old retired widow living alone in the home she shared with her late husband for over 40 years. The house, though modest, holds decades of memories and is her pride and joy. With no mortgage and a steady income from her State Pension and a private pension her husband arranged, Margaret appears,…
Read MoreSarah’s Battle
Sarah is a 34-year-old single woman who lives alone in a small, rented flat. She has mild learning difficulties, which affect her ability to manage her finances and navigate complex systems. Sarah receives Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Personal Independence Payment (PIP), both of which provide her with a modest income. On paper, she…
Read MoreImpact in the last 9 months
The difference we make……. This snapshot report presents our work, in numbers, as an accurate and detailed picture of the effect of the work we do in the Epping Forest District. Our volunteers, supported by a team of dedicated paid staff, work for the service to achieve all of this. Whilst they recognise the difference they make…
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