Citizens Advice Guernsey has reported a marked increase in demand for its services, with housing shortages and persistent cost-of-living pressures leading to more complex client needs and extended advisory sessions. The charity’s annual report highlights a growing strain on its resources as it addresses the multifaceted challenges faced by the island’s residents.
Rising Caseload and Complexity
In 2025, Citizens Advice Guernsey supported 3,043 clients, an increase from 2,991 clients in 2024. These interactions encompassed almost 5,700 separate issues. The average time spent with each client also rose from 51 to 54 minutes, which the charity states is equivalent to approximately 150 extra hours of adviser time overall. This escalation in time spent per client underscores the "increasing complexity of client needs and the growing demand on our adviser resources," according to the report. Over 10,000 volunteer hours were required to maintain the service’s operations throughout the year.
Housing as a Primary Concern
Housing emerged as the single biggest driver of demand, accounting for more than 1,000 cases and affecting 474 clients. The charity identified rental housing as a "particularly difficult" area for its clients, compounded by a "chronic shortage of social housing." The report also noted that housing issues are frequently intertwined with other financial and personal difficulties. For instance, "Divorce and separation often add to the housing shortage, because the separated couple need two homes," the charity explained.
Interconnected Economic and Social Pressures
While housing remained the top concern, employment issues ranked as the second-most common area of demand, followed by legal and family matters in third and fourth place, respectively. The organisation’s data suggests a broader pattern where housing challenges often exacerbate financial stress and relationship difficulties, creating a complex web of interconnected problems for clients.
Looking ahead, Citizens Advice Guernsey anticipates that demand for its services will continue to rise. The charity warns that "with the continuing cost-of-living crisis, this is going to impact further on those who are already struggling, as well as those who have just managed to survive thus far." This outlook suggests a sustained period of elevated pressure on advisory services as economic challenges persist across the community.
