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About Citizens Advice Gateshead

As an independent local charity that has been established for over 60 years we have grown into one of the biggest providers of Citizens Advice services nationally. We know you will be familiar with the respected Citizens Advice brand, but we'd also love you to know more about the people and the passion that sit behind it, and the story that make Citizens Advice Gateshead so unique.
"You have taken a lot of stress away from me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart." 

Our Story

People often think they know us because they recognise the infinitely trusted and respected Citizens Advice brand. That's not surprising, as over an 80 year history 'Citizens Advice' has become a household name that's synonymous with free, quality, impartial advice and information, giving people the help they need to find their way forward.

At Citizens Advice Gateshead we are proud to be a member of the Citizens Advice charity network, and to meet the high standards expected of member organisations. But behind the scenes we're also ploughing our own furrow as a local charity making a big difference, not just locally but regionally and nationally too. Browse the information below to find out more about who we are, what we do, why we do it, the impact we have, and what more we believe we can do with your help. We'd also encourage you to get in touch if you'd like to know more.

Our Core Values

Our core values are fundamental to the ethos of the charity, reflecting the attitudes and behaviours we encourage, expect and praise amongst our staff, volunteers and trustees.

Rock the system
We put the individual needs of our clients at the heart of everything we do every day, and actively work individually and collectively to be part of a system that has a tangible and positive impact on people’s lives.

Stand Up, Speak Out
We acknowledge there are historic and systemic injustices in our society and believe we must stand up for a fair society for all, with lives well lived. We speak out against racism, discrimination, oppression and all forms of harassment as we strive to understand and value each other’s culture, life experience, gender identity, disability, class and sexuality.

Blaze the trail
We know that the status quo is not an option, so we actively embrace and power change. We challenge, come up with new ways of doing things, and are always prepared to give new ideas a go. Failure is an option as long as we learn and grow if something doesn’t work the first time around.

Own it!
We strive every day to be the best that we can be, holding ourselves personally accountable, taking ownership of our actions, our achievements, and our own personal development. With a focus on efficiency and shrewd planning, we make every pound count and take pride in securing the long-term health of the charity.

Impact and Projects

We are proud to be working with a wide range of partners who share our commitment, and through their continued support we have been able to expand our service and widen the range of advice we can bring to our community. Some of our projects operate locally, others across the North East region, and an increasing number are national. They all have one thing in common, having at their core the desire to support to people to know and understand their social welfare rights and responsibilities, and make a tangible impact on the lives of our clients and the wider community and economy. We ensure millions of pounds are justly claimed by those who can each year, and help hundreds of people at their most vulnerable moments and provide advice and reassurance when it is needed most.
View our Projects »

Job Vacancies

Citizens Advice Gateshead is a dynamic and diverse workplace where we balance our absolute commitment to delivering our charitable aims with a modern and progressive outlook within the workplace. If you are looking for a new challenge where you are assured of making a real difference check out our latest job vacancies. You can also find out about volunteering opportunities here.
View more Job Vacancies »

Research and Campaigns

A fundamental part of our work is ongoing research into the issues that impact our clients, and campaigning to bring about real change to the system, so that it works for everyone. Under the banner of 'Gateshead Investigates' our volunteer-led Research and Campaigns team gather and analyse data and carry out crucial research into issues in our local community.  

Find out more about volunteering here
View our Research and Campaign Reports »

Volunteering

We could not do the work we do without the generosity and dedication of our team of amazing volunteers. We have a vast array of volunteer opportunities ranging from giving advice to clients, to managing our social media to maintaining our secret garden. All we ask is that you give a few hours of your time each week and that you have a desire to create a fair society for all, with lives well lived.

 How Andrew made volunteering as a student work for him

It’s Student Volunteering Week, and while we recognise the outstanding efforts of all of our volunteers year-round, we thought this week was a good time to share with you all the success story of one of our volunteers, Andrew Richardson. Andrew gives his time each Friday to support our Research & Campaigns team in their […]

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How volunteering helped Lauren hone her client skills

For Student Volunteering Week, we're highlighting some of our volunteers who are offering some of their time, alongside their degrees, to help support the clients of Citizens Advice Gateshead. "Hi, I am Lauren, a webchat volunteer here at Citizens Advice Gateshead. I became a volunteer around a year ago and have been doing webchat support […]

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How volunteering has helped Alex make a valuable contribution to the lives of other people

  Meet Alex, having recently completed the Adviser Learning training Alex is making his mark as an Adviceline volunteer in our Contact Centre. I volunteer at Citizens Advice Gateshead because my commitment is valued by everyone at the organisation, and I am given the opportunity to challenge myself and develop new skills. Given the current […]

Read More
Read more about our Volunteers »

Board of Trustees

As a charity, Citizens Advice Gateshead is governed by a Board of Trustees made up of volunteers who contribute their time and expertise to guide the organisation. Trustees have overall control of the charity and are responsible for making sure it is fulfilling its mission to mobilise knowledge so the system works, and it works for everyone, and it powers the changes we need to be an equal and inclusive society.

If you're interested being a trustee at Citizens Advice Gateshead, contact us here for more details.
See more trustees »

Quality Endorsements

Our commitment to quality assurance and continual improvement is fundamental to our values. This is evidenced through our robust approach to delivering client services, as well as independent endorsement through quality standards and accreditation. Quality assurance is embedded into all aspects of the charity, to maximise our effectiveness, our efficiency and the impact we have on our clients and all other stakeholders.
 Great Place to Work Certified

We're certified as a Great Place to Work! Through their certification process, Great Place to Work have captured valuable employee feedback using our research-driven Trust Index survey and details about the programmes and practices that make Citizens Advice Gateshead unique.

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Specialist Quality Mark Holder Contracted with the Legal Aid Agency

Specialist Quality Mark Holder Contracted with the Legal Aid Agency.

To find out more go to the award bodies website

Find out more about our Accreditations and Endorsements

Read More
AQS Advice Quality Standard

Giving excellent advice is core to our aim to help people to know and understand their rights and responsibilities.

Read More
Find out more »

Society Matters CIC

Society Matters Community Interest Company is a social enterprise and trading subsidiary of Citizens Advice Gateshead that donates 100% of its profits to fund the work of the charity. 

Society Matters CIC has a clear social purpose to make its mark on society, contributing to the vision and mission of the charity. We are committed to driving system change as we build a reputation for excellence in the development and delivery of a growing number of independently quality endorsed social welfare training and development services.

Our opening times

For our main office:
Monday to Friday
9am to 5pm
Saturday to Sunday
10am to 4pm

What do we cover?

We cover much more than benefits, and we know you may be dealing with more than one issue. Knowing where to go for help isn't always easy, so use our handy guide to see if your issue might be covered.
Click here to see what we can advise you on

How to find us

Main office
The Davidson Building,
Swan Street,
Gateshead,
NE8 1BG

Hubs in the region

Although we're based in central Gateshead, we run drop-in services across the region. Find out the nearest to you and see where and when you can get the advice you need:
Get advice wherever you are in Gateshead

This Is The North podcast

This Is The North is a podcast featuring expert guests discussing why the poverty gap matters and celebrating the North's creativity in tackling this issue. Hosted by Alison Dunn, our Chief Executive and a dedicated social justice advocate.
Find out more and listen now!

Stay connected

We're regularly updating our social media channels with advice, information and campaigns. Follow us on these platforms to get daily updates!

Easy access

Click the Accessibility button at the top of every page to access a range of translation and accessibility options.
Citizens Advice Gateshead Updates
We will keep you up-to-date with exciting developments within the charity, the impact of our work and opportunities to help us create a fair society for all, with lives well lived.
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© 2026 Citizens Advice Gateshead 
Company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales 2631064 and registered Charity 1020565. VAT Number 484972535. Registered office The Davidson Building, Swan Street, Gateshead, NE8 1BG. Citizens Advice Gateshead ar regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Reference number: 617611
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