PLYMOUTH CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAUX
Citizens Advice Plymouth provides impartial confidential advice and information in particular but without limitation for the benefit of the community in Plymouth and its surrounding areas and particularly to those who are most disadvantaged. We aim to provide the advice people need for the problems they face and to improve the policies and practices that affect people's lives.
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that total income increased to £6,941,450 with total expenditure at £6,500,038, resulting in a net surplus for the year. The charity held free reserves of £708,710 at the end of the financial year, which the Trustees consider appropriate to support operational resilience.
What the accounts disclose
“The number of employees whose emoluments fell within the following bands was: 2025 No 1 £60,001 - £70,000” — page 36
“The number of employees whose emoluments fell within the following bands was: 2025 No 1 £60,001 - £70,000” — page 36
“Following the Trustees' recent review, the Board updated its reserves policy and considers it appropriate that the charity holds a level of free reserves, which includes an operating contingency, which is based on three months’ central costs, plus extra core advice expenses that have been budgeted in the year; a staff transition fund to cover transitional arrangements for staff waiting for contract renewals and a general redundancy provision. Including the large projects exposure risk.” — page 12
“During the year, £3,282 was paid to Apex HR Ltd in relation to staff recruitment. At the balance sheet date the amount due to/from Apex HR Ltd was £Nil (2024 - £Nil).” — page 48
Year-over-year changes
- Employees paid over £60,000: 0 (FY2024) → 1 (FY2025).
Leadership, per the charity’s website
- Emma Handley — CEO
- Emma Symonds — Director of Operations
- Michelle Coppola-Cookson — Director of HR
- Andy Gunter-Smith — Director of Development
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/03/2025)
Register events
- Received assets from another charity (28/11/2025)
Trustees
- Paul Matthewschair
- Chris Mottram
- Elizabeth Edwards-Smith
- Jeremy Wollerton
- John Gane
- Kevin Miller
- Lea Guzzo
- Richard Baker
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/03/2025 | £6.9m | £6.5m |
| 31/03/2024 | £5.7m | £5.6m |
| 31/03/2023 | £5.2m | £5.0m |
| 31/03/2022 | £4.7m | £4.6m |
| 31/03/2021 | £3.8m | £3.7m |
Common questions
Is PLYMOUTH CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAUX financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that total income increased to £6,941,450 with total expenditure at £6,500,038, resulting in a net surplus for the year. The charity held free reserves of £708,710 at the end of the financial year, which the Trustees consider appropriate to support operational resilience. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by PKF Francis Clark.
What does the highest-paid employee of PLYMOUTH CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAUX earn?
Per its FY2025 accounts, the highest-paid employee was in the £60,001 - £70,000 band, and 1 employees earned over £60,000.
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| A B Charitable Trust | 02/07/2019 | £25k | A grant to Plymouth Citizens Advice Bureaux |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 02/08/2012 | £864k | Wis£er Wonga |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 21/07/2008 | £7k | There is no project name available for this record |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| THE TRUSSELL TRUST | 1 | £31.5m |
| THE MASTER CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £1.2m |
| THE JULIA RAUSING TRUST | 1 | £1.0m |
| WORCESTER MUNICIPAL CHARITIES (CIO) | 1 | £774k |
| THE NATIONWIDE FOUNDATION | 1 | £247k |
| THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR WILTSHIRE & SWINDON | 1 | £230k |
| GARFIELD WESTON FOUNDATION | 1 | £200k |
| THE HEALTH FOUNDATION | 1 | £164k |
Charities like this
- IPSWICH AND DISTRICT CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU
- THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAUX
- CANOLFAN CYNGHORI YNYS MON CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU
- CITIZENS ADVICE 1066
- IMPROVING LIVES PLYMOUTH
- BLACKPOOL CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PLYMOUTH CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAUX | £6.9m | £60,001 - £70,000 | 1 | above | — | no doubt |
| IPSWICH AND DISTRICT CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU | £952k | — | 0 | below | — | no doubt |
| THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAUX | £167.8m | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| CANOLFAN CYNGHORI YNYS MON CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU | £1.4m | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| CITIZENS ADVICE 1066 | £1.4m | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |
| IMPROVING LIVES PLYMOUTH | £2.4m | more than £60,000 | 1 | unclear | — | no doubt |