If you would prefer to talk to someone face to face about your debt problem, there are plenty of free local advice agencies in Bristol that can help. We have compiled a list of useful contacts in the city including free local debt advice agencies, credit unions, advice directories and other useful organisations. These are featured on this map and detailed below.
View Bristol Debt Help Centres in a larger map
Bristol City Council
Central Customer Service Point,
Bond Street South,
Bristol BS1 3PH
www.bristol.gov.uk
Bristol City Council runs 7 Customer Service Points, offering face-to-face advice on benefits, Council Tax, housing and other issues. These are marked in blue on the map above. The council also has a Debt and Money section on their website.
Bristol City Council Welfare Rights and Money Advice Service
Tel: 0117 377 2877
This is a money advice service for Bristol City Council tenants. They also provide benefits advice to residents in sheltered housing, service users of home- and day-care and people with a sensory impairment.
Citizens Advice Bureaux
There is one Citizens Advice Bureau in Bristol and one in South Gloucestershire providing specialist advice on debt, benefits, employment and housing:
Bristol Citizens Advice Bureux
Telephone Advice: 0844 499 4718 (Monday & Wednesday, 10am-12pm)
www.bristolcab.org.uk
Help and advice with a range of issues including debt, housing and employment.
Bristol Advice Point
1 Quay Street,
Bristol BS1 2JL
Opening hours:
Monday-Friday, 9.30am-1pm (drop-in assessments)
Monday-Friday, 9.30am-4.30pm (Information Service)
Southmead Drop-in Advice
The Community Centre,
248 Greystoke Avenue, Southmead
Bristol BS10 6BQ
Opening hours:
Wednesday, 10am-1pm
South Gloucestershire Citizens Advice Bureau
Tel: 08444 111 444
www.southgloscab.org.uk
Advice on debt, benefits, redundancy, housing, consumer problems and more. South Gloucestershire Citizens Advice Bureau runs two centres in Bristol:
South Gloucestershire CAB - Staple Hill
117 High Street,
Staple Hill,
Bristol BS15 5HF
Opening hours:
Monday & Friday, 10am-1pm
Thursday, 10am-12pm
South Gloucestershire CAB - Yate
Kennedy Way, Yate,
Bristol BS37 4DQ
Opening hours for advice:
Monday & Friday, 10am-1pm
Tuesday, 10am-12pm & 1-3pm
Local advice centres
Other sources of free debt advice in Bristol include:
Bristol Debt Advice Centre
2nd Floor, 48-54 West Street,
St Philips,
Bristol BS2 0BL
Tel: 0117 954 3990
www.bdac.org.uk
Specialist debt advice and advocacy, specific energy advice and council tax drop-in sessions.
Opening hours:
Monday & Tuesday, 9.30am-12pm (drop-in service)
Thursday, 9.30am-12pm (telephone advice only)
North Bristol Advice Centre
2 Gainsborough Square,
Lockleaze,
Bristol BS7 9XA
Tel: 0117 951 5751
www.northbristoladvice.org.uk
North Bristol Advice Centre provides advice and advocacy for debt, employment, housing and welfare benefits issues.
Drop-in sessions:
Monday, 9.30am-12.30pm
Thursday, 9.30am-12.30pm (debt advice only)
North Bristol Advice Centre runs sessions at various venues throughout Bristol, including:
Advice Shop
Ridingleaze House, Ridingleaze,
Lawrence Weston,
Bristol BS11 0QE
Opening hours:
Monday, 9.30am-12.30pm
Tuesday, 1.30-4.30pm (welfare benefits advice, by appointment only)
Wednesday, 2.30-4pm (debt advice, by appointment only)
For more information on other outreach centres see their website.
South Bristol Advice Service
Tel: 0117 985 1122
www.southbristoladvice.org.uk
A free, independent and confidential debt and benefits advice service. Drop-in sessions are held at various locations, including:
The Withywood Centre
Queens Road,
Bristol BS13 8QA
Opening hours:
Wednesday, 10am-12pm
Friday, 2-4pm
@Symes Community Centre
Peterson Avenue, Hartcliffe,
Bristol BS13 0BE
Opening hours:
Mondays, 10am-12pm
Wednesdays, 1-3pm
Fridays, 10am-12pm
St Pauls Advice Centre
146 Grosvenor Road, St Pauls,
Bristol BS2 8YA
Tel: 0117 955 2981
http://advicewest.org.uk/service/st-pauls-advice-centre
St Pauls Advice Centre has specialist advisers giving debt and welfare benefits advice and providing representation when appropriate. Also provide general advice on housing, employment, immigration and consumer issues.
Drop-in sessions:
Monday, Tuesday & Thursday, 10am-12pm
By appointment only:
Tuesday, 10am-12pm & 2-4pm
Wednesday & Thursday, 2-4pm
Friday, 10am-12pm
North East Bristol CAP (Christians Against Poverty) Centre
Christchurch Downend,
Downend Road, Downend,
Bristol BS16 5UF
Tel: 0800 328 0006
www.christchurchdownend.com
CAP provide a free, face-to-face professional debt counselling service in the comfort of your own home. Telephone 0800 328 0006 to make an appointment.
Free legal advice services
The following organisations offer free legal advice to Bristol residents:
Avon and Bristol Law Centre
2 Moon Street, Stokes Croft,
Bristol BS2 8QE
Tel: 0117 924 8662
Debt advice line: 0117 916 7730 (Only Mondays, 1-4pm)
www.avonandbristollawcentre.org.uk
The Law Centre provides a free legal advice and advocacy service for unwaged and low-paid people and for people experiencing unlawful discrimination. Areas of law include debt, housing & welfare benefits. Advice is given by appointment only.
South West Law
1 Hide Market, West Street,
St Phillips,
Bristol BS2 0BH
Tel: 0117 314 6400
www.southwestlaw.org.uk
Specialist legal advice with housing law and welfare benefits, as well as other issues. Their services are normally free to people on a low income or to those in receipt of income support, Job Seekers Allowance or Pension Credit.
Credit Unions
Credit Unions are safe, ethical lenders and offer saving schemes to their members.
Bristol Credit Union
112/114 Cheltenham Road,
Bristol BS6 5RW
Tel: 0117 9247309
www.bristolcreditunion.org
Bristol Credit Union is open to anyone who lives, works, volunteers or studies in Bristol, Bath & North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. See their website for local community service points.
Opening hours:
Monday-Friday, 10am-2.30pm.
Severn Four Credit Union
The Springfield Room,
Shirehampton Public Hall,
Station Road,
Bristol BS11 9TX
Tel: 0117 938 1439
www.severnfourcreditunion.org
Anyone who lives or works within the boundaries of the City of Bristol is eligible to join this credit union. See their website for Local Paypoints.
Head Office opening hours:
Tuesday-Friday, 9.30am-12.30pm (drop-in)
Tuesday-Friday, 9.30am-3pm (telephone)
Advice Directories
Bristol has a number of online advice directories, which can be helpful in directing you to other useful organisations. They include:
Advice West
advicewest.org.uk
Advice West is run by Advice Centres for Avon (ACFA), a network of independent advice agencies working across Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire. Search their member database for local advice providers near you.
Well Aware
www.wellaware.org.uk
This website is a database of health, well-being and community resources in South Gloucestershire, Bristol and Bath & North East Somerset.
Debt advice for older people
Older people living in Bristol can get specialist support from:
Age UK Bristol
Canningford House,
38 Victoria Street,
Bristol BS1 6BY
Tel: 0117 929 7537
Information and Advice Service: 0117 922 5353
www.ageukbristol.org.uk
Age UK Bristol's Information and Advice Service provides help to over-55s living in Bristol. They help with debt, benefits, rent and mortgage arrears, pensions and other issues.
Opening hours:
Monday, Wednesday & Thursday, 10am-1pm
Tuesday, 10am-3.30pm
WE Care & Repair
5 Hide Market, Waterloo Street,
St Philips,
Bristol BS2 0BH
Tel: 0117 954 2222
www.wecareandrepair.org.uk
Help for over-60s and disabled people to remain independent in their homes.WE (West of England) Care & Repair can help with overseeing home repairs, a handy person service, free home safety checks and help accessing funding for essential repair work.
Opening hours:
Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm