• Support Wokingham Today
  • Get the print edition
  • Sign up for our daily newsletter
Saturday, June 28, 2025
Wokingham.Today
  • HOME
  • MY AREA
    • All
    • Arborfield
    • Barkham
    • Beech Hill
    • Binfield
    • Bracknell
    • Charvil
    • Crowthorne
    • Earley
    • Emmbrook
    • Finchampstead
    • Grazeley
    • Henley
    • Hurst
    • Lower Earley
    • Norreys
    • Reading
    • Remenham
    • Riseley
    • Shinfield
    • Sindlesham
    • Sonning
    • Spencers Wood
    • Swallowfield
    • Three Mile Cross
    • Twyford
    • Wargrave
    • Winnersh
    • Wokingham
    • Wokingham Without
    • Woodley
    • Woosehill
    • Yateley
    The Emmbrook School

    Emmbrook sixth form a step closer

    In the historic vote last week, MPs approved a bill. Pic: House of Commons.

    MPs vote on ‘assisted dying’ bill

    The ban could mean a loss in revenue for Wokingham borough council. Pic: Truform.

    Council mulls ban on “unhealthy” ads

    PHOTO BY STEWART TURKINGTON
 www.stphotos.co.uk

    Wokingham flies the flag for Armed Forces Day

    Wokingham Town Hall

    Protection for town hall

    Referee of the Year Lola Pollard with event host Paul Watson. Photo: Darren Woolley.

    Berkshire football winners revealed

    Image by Katamaheen from Pixabay.

    Can you spare five minutes to help save the planet?

    Cllr Conway

    FROM THE LEADER: Looking to the future

    Police Picture: Pixabay

    17-year-old boy stabbed in knifepoint robbery by three masked men in Warfield

  • SPORT
    • All
    • Binfield FC
    • Reading FC
    Todd Trosclair and Rob Couhig

    Reading FC owner Rob Couhig speaks on transfer window, missed signings and ‘leaked information’

    Referee of the Year Lola Pollard with event host Paul Watson. Photo: Darren Woolley.

    Berkshire football winners revealed

    Tyrese Fornah

    Former Reading FC midfielder makes League One transfer

    Reading FC

    Reading FC to play Tottenham in pre-season friendly

    Sir John Madejski

    Sir John Madejski to look back on his time as Reading FC owner at Purple Turtle Q&A event

    Amadou Mbengue

    Reading FC defender sends farewell message to fans

    Joe Lumley

    Former Reading FC goalkeeper makes Championship move

    Reading FC

    ‘Fans should be excited’: Reading FC confirms investment from Aliya Capital Partners

    Jayden Wareham

    Wareham joins League One side after rejecting Reading FC contract

  • READING FC
  • COMMUNITY
    The Emmbrook School

    Emmbrook sixth form a step closer

    In the historic vote last week, MPs approved a bill. Pic: House of Commons.

    MPs vote on ‘assisted dying’ bill

    The ban could mean a loss in revenue for Wokingham borough council. Pic: Truform.

    Council mulls ban on “unhealthy” ads

    Wokingham Town Hall

    Protection for town hall

    Image by Katamaheen from Pixabay.

    Can you spare five minutes to help save the planet?

    Land at Bridge Farm, Twyford, Pic: Croudance Homes.

    Approval given for 200 homes in Twyford

    Hurst Show on Saturday.

The Hobby Horse Showjumping.

    Hurst Show returns this weekend

    Winnersh fete. Sid performs as part of the falconry display. Pic: Andrew Batt.

    Fun for all at Winnersh fete

    Males are instantly recognisable with their antler-like jaws. Pic: Andrew Batt.

    Volunteers needed to record sightings of stag beetles

  • LIFESTYLE
    • All
    • Food
    • Health
    • Obituaries
    • People
    Image by Katamaheen from Pixabay.

    Can you spare five minutes to help save the planet?

    Winnersh fete. Sid performs as part of the falconry display. Pic: Andrew Batt.

    Fun for all at Winnersh fete

    Males are instantly recognisable with their antler-like jaws. Pic: Andrew Batt.

    Volunteers needed to record sightings of stag beetles

    Me2 Club, which describes itself as Berkshire?s charity for children?s inclusion. Pic: Me2Club.

    Charity issues urgent appeal for help

    Annabel and Bob in Goodnight Mr Tom. Picture: Simon Vail Photography

    ‘Some of my closest friends were made at Wokingham Youth Theatre’

    The Wokingham Theatre in the Park was held in Elms Field on Saturday.

    Popular event returns to Elms Field

    The event is set to happen next month.

    Free electric vehicle event

    Opuz opened in Wokingham on Monday. ic: Stewart Turkington.

    Opuz opens in Wokingham

    Property auctions are gaining in popularity in Berkshire according to new research Picture: Pixabay

    Everything must go at social club auction

  • WHAT’S ON
    • All
    • Arts
    • Entertainment
    The Wokingham Theatre in the Park was held in Elms Field on Saturday.

    Popular event returns to Elms Field

    St Sebastian Wokingham Brass Band is celebrating promotion to the first section of The Southern Counties Competition. Picture: St Sebastian Wokingham  Brass Band

    Band to perform for Armed Forces Day

    The event is set to happen next month.

    Free electric vehicle event

    Hazel Evans and Laura Buck in The Jungle Book

    Twyford Drama to celebrate 60th anniversary with open day

    Property auctions are gaining in popularity in Berkshire according to new research Picture: Pixabay

    Everything must go at social club auction

    Shaun the Sheep Picture: Pixabay

    Shaun the Sheep flocks to Reading town centre this summer

    The event is at Dinton Pastures Country Park..

    Celebrating dads with free family fun day

    More than 6,000 people are expected to attend the event.

    Woodley Carnival returns on Saturday

    A series of short horror films made by local filmmakers will be shown at Reading's Biscuit Factory on July 17. Picture: Alexander Krivitskiy via Unsplash

    Local filmmakers bring spooky horror shorts to Reading Biscuit Factory

  • JOBS
  • ADVERTISE
  • CONTACT
No Result
View All Result
Wokingham.Today
No Result
View All Result
Home Featured

GOOD ADVICE: An opportunity to look back at the history of Citizens Advice Wokingham

by Phil Creighton
March 4, 2019
in Featured, Lifestyle, Wokingham
Citizens Advice
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

On Thursday, February 14, Citizens Advice Wokingham was visited by former Chair of the Management Committee Dennis Eyriey, and original volunteer Jackie Jones.

The visit is one of the first in Citizens Advice Wokingham’s long-term initiative to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the opening of the first Citizens Advice offices in the country.

The first Citizens Advice offices did indeed open in 1939, but Citizens Advice Wokingham are seeking to unearth their own roots from their later establishment on June 27, 1977 by the then-Town Clerk, Richard Rees Jones.

Jackie, who was a member of the first set of volunteers to work at what was then titled the ‘Wokingham Citizens Advice Bureau’, spoke about her motivations and the experience of joining the new workforce.

She recalls: “I was informed by a friend on the Town Council about Citizens Advice, because she knew I’d be interested, owing to my background in benefits. I’d been involved with the Volunteer Bureau before.

“A meeting was organised, and an advert presumably run in the Wokingham Times, and 10 or 12 new volunteers had training.”

Related posts

Blandy and Blandy: Have You seen a UXO? How an Unexploded Ordnance Can Impact a Developer

Parking charges set to rise again

The Wokingham & District Citizens Advice Bureau records show that 10 founding volunteers became advisers. The service moved to Langborough Road while refurbishments were made to the Town Hall, before moving back again. Jackie was in the position of Deputy Organiser at the time.

“I was essentially there to support the advisers by managing them, holding meetings and so forth,” she says. “There were very few appointments. Most people came off the street to make enquiries. Their numbers built up quickly, and we were pressed for time because the service was proving so popular. Also, remember that we had to update the records by hand.

“Our day books were much the same as they are now in terms of the issues raised. Benefits, housing and debt were the most common, and a fluid community left many vulnerable residents to fill out paperwork on their own. The advice we gave was good, but not delivered as quickly as it can be now.”

She adds: “A lot of the time, members of the public would come in with local enquiries about where the nearest loo or chemist was. There was little restriction on whom advice could be given to either.”

Dennis was also involved in the Bureau’s establishment: “Once we had our new premises set up, we said, ‘Let’s get a Management Committee set up, and see where it goes’. I was the first Chairman.

“We started at the Town Hall in some grotty accommodation, and we didn’t even have a loo. That survived for a little bit until we got moved to Langborough Road for the refurbishment and back again.”

After a series of moves to different locations over the years, the Citizens Advice Wokingham office can now be found at Waterford House, Erftstadt Court.

‘‘We had to beg and borrow money for computer systems, which were being introduced at the time,” Dennis recalls ‘You’ve got to keep records much more now than used to be the case. We had no computers to start with, just a few record cards. There’s only so much you can write on a record card, and everyone then became very frightened about record keeping.’

Dennis stepped down as a Trustee in 2007, although the spell was not an unbroken one.

Chief Executive Jake Morrison adds: “As the 80th anniversary of the first Citizens Advice service approaches in September, we will continue to look in to the history of our charity here in Wokingham. It was great to welcome both Jackie and Dennis back to the charity to visit our current team and share stories. It is remarkable how so much of our work is similar to today.”

You can get help and advice from your local Citizens Advice or visit www.citizensadvicewokingham.org.uk or visit Second Floor, Waterford House, Erfstadt Court, Wokingham RG40 2YF. Tel: 0300 330 1189. email: [email protected]

Keep up to date by signing up for our daily newsletter

We don’t spam we only send our newsletter to people who have requested it.

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Tags: Citizens AdviceCitizens Advice WokinghamJackie JonesJake MorrisonWokingham & District Citizens Advice Bureauwokingham timesWokingham Town Councilwoky
Previous Post

Fairtrade Fortnight to be celebrated by Woodley church at coffee morning

Next Post

PRESS PACK: Bohunt School welcomes Chinese exchange

FOLLOW US

POPULAR THIS WEEK

Operators of Shinfield Studios close deal on £250m refinancing

June 27, 2025
Image by Mohamed Hassan from Pixabay.

MP raises lack of GPs in Wokingham

June 22, 2025
St Sebastian Wokingham Brass Band is celebrating promotion to the first section of The Southern Counties Competition. Picture: St Sebastian Wokingham  Brass Band

Band to perform for Armed Forces Day

June 26, 2025
PHOTO BY STEWART TURKINGTON
 www.stphotos.co.uk

Wokingham flies the flag for Armed Forces Day

June 28, 2025
Dinton Pastures

Dinton Pastures applies for licence for events for 1000+ people

June 23, 2025
The Police and Crime Commissioner has released a new series of resources for local authorities, schools, and caregivers to help protect children and educate adults.

Police and Crime Commissioner releases new resources aimed at tackling child exploitation and online harm

June 25, 2025

ABOUT US

Wokingham Today is dedicated to providing news online across the whole of the Borough of Wokingham. It is a Social Enterprise, existing to support the various communities in Wokingham Borough.

Wokingham.Today is a Social Enterprise and aims to ensure that everyone within the Borough has free access to independent and up-to-date news. However, providing this service is not without costs. If you are able to, please make a contribution to support our work.

CONTACT US

[email protected]

Keep up to date with our daily newsletter

We don’t spam we only send our newsletter to people that have subscribed

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

  • Support Us
  • Book Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Get the Print Edition
  • Sign up for our daily newsletter

The Wokingham Paper Ltd publications are regulated by IPSO – the Independent Press Standards Organisation.
If you have a complaint about a  The Wokingham Paper Ltd  publication in print or online, you should, in the first instance, contact the publication concerned, email: [email protected], or telephone: 0118 327 2662. If it is not resolved to your satisfaction, you should contact IPSO by telephone: 0300 123 2220, or visit its website: www.ipso.co.uk. Members of the public are welcome to contact IPSO at any time if they are not sure how to proceed, or need advice on how to frame a complaint.

No Result
View All Result
  • HOME
  • MY AREA
    • Arborfield
    • Barkham
    • Beech Hill
    • Binfield
    • Bracknell
    • Charvil
    • Crowthorne
    • Earley
    • Emmbrook
    • Finchampstead
    • Grazeley
    • Henley
    • Hurst
    • Lower Earley
    • Norreys
    • Reading
    • Remenham
  • COMMUNITY
  • LIFESTYLE
  • SPORT
  • READING FC
  • OBITUARIES
  • WHAT’S ON
  • JOBS
  • PHOTOS
  • ADVERTISE WITH US
  • CONTACT US
  • WHERE TO GET THE PRINT EDITION
  • SUPPORT US

© 2022 - The Wokingham Paper Ltd - All Right Reserved.