History

On 4 September 1939, the day after the nation went to war, 200 Citizens Advice Bureaux opened their doors. From the start, volunteers ran the service, working from public buildings and private houses. Citizens Advice Teignbridge has had its own identity since the early 1970s. Local government was being reorganised at the time, with the creation of the Teignbridge district, and changes were afoot nationally in our service, with the formation of the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux. This family structure still exists today, and all local Citizens Advice, including Teignbridge, are audited to ensure they meet high standards of quality in their advice work, and stick to our shared principles.

In 1993 our old Newton Abbot premises opened in Bank Street, where we stayed for 20 years before moving to the Market Walk in 2013. We also had an office in Teignmouth Library from the late 1980s until March 2020. Dawlish bureau closed a few years ago but is now operating again from the Manor House. Demand for our service grows every year, and we couldn’t keep it all going without our wonderful, knowledgeable, dedicated and caring volunteers.