Since the Council pledged to invest £1.6m over 5 years in 2025, over 15k residents have benefitted from a range of social welfare advice issues including benefits, housing and debt over the past year.
Citizens Advice Hounslow has delivered life-changing outcomes to local residents over the past year. Since the Council pledged £1.6 million to support the local charity in January 2025, the organisation has:
- Secured £17 million in financial gains for local residents. This includes over £11m in additional benefits for residents and £4.3m in debt managed or written off.
- Supported over 2,500 residents to avoid homelessness and reduce over £1.4m in rent arrears.
- 60,000 issues from local residents resolved through phone support or drop-in sessions in Feltham, Chiswick and locations across the borough.
Visiting the Feltham drop-in session last week, Councillor Ajmer Grewal, Cabinet Member for Residents Support, Communities and Equalities at Hounslow Council, said:
I was thoroughly impressed by the dedication and expertise of the staff at Citizens Advice Hounslow today. Through our investment, Citizens Advice Hounslow provides an invaluable lifeline to so many our residents and I saw first-hand the difference this service is making.
Our partnership and funding with Citizens Advice Hounslow illustrates our wider commitment to the voluntary sector, which includes nearly £430k for charities and community groups through our Thriving Communities grant programme over the past year.
Citizens Advice Hounslow offers support through weekly sessions at various locations across Hounslow. To view the timings and locations, click here. Residents can also gain vital support through the Council’s 11 Community Hubs and Libraries. Based at various locations around the borough, residents can gain vital support on money management, housing and job opportunities.
Aiman Elal, CEO of the charity, said:
This funding has been transformative for residents across Hounslow. At a time when many people are facing unprecedented pressures from the rising cost of living, it has allowed us to provide vital advice, advocacy and hands-on casework to thousands of local people who might otherwise have nowhere to turn.
Behind every statistic is a resident worried about losing their home, falling into debt, or struggling to put food on the table. Thanks to this investment, we’ve been able to stand alongside those residents, helping them secure the benefits they are entitled to, resolve complex problems and regain financial stability. The impact is life-changing — not only delivering millions of pounds back into the pockets of local families, but restoring hope, dignity and security for people across our borough.
Lana* who lives in the borough and attended a Feltham session spoke of the impact the service had on her. She said:
As a single mum, the cost of everything has been really tough and there were times I just didn’t know how I was going to manage. When I went to the Citizens Advice office in Feltham, they were so kind and really took the time to listen. They helped me sort out my benefits and explained things in a way I could understand.
It’s taken a huge weight off my shoulders and made such a difference for me and my kids. I’m honestly so grateful for the help – I don’t know what I would have done without them.
To find our more about Citizen’s Advice Hounslow, click here.
*Names have been changed.
