CITIZENS ADVICE COLCHESTER
Provision of free, confidential, impartial and independent advice and information for the benefit of the local community.
Objects
The charity’s objects (‘Objects’) are specifically: to promote any charitable purpose for the public benefit by the advancement of education, the protection and preservation of health and the relief of poverty, sickness and distress in particular, but without limitation, for the benefit of the community in Colchester and surrounding areas.
Financial health, per its FY2026 accounts
The accounts state that the charity reported a deficit of £135,156 for the year, resulting in a decrease in total reserves from £299,034 to £163,878. The trustees note that maintaining sufficient funding remains a continual challenge due to increased demand and rising costs, though they maintain adequate resources for going concern purposes.
What the accounts disclose
“We are a related party to Citizens Advice Essex, and a consortium membership fee is paid annually. Restricted fund income is received from the consortium and recorded within the year as listed in Note 4 total of £135,278 (2025: £118,000).” — page 28
Policies the charity declares
- Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
- Complaints handling
- Complaints policy and procedures
- Conflicting interests
- Financial reserves policy and procedures
- Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
- Internal risk management policy and procedures
- Investing charity funds policy and procedures
- Investment
- Paying staff
- Risk management
- Safeguarding policy and procedures
- Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
- Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
- Social media policy and procedures
- Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
- Trustee expenses policy and procedures
- Volunteer management
Trustees
- Cameron Banks Murray
- Kimberly Cullen
- Lanston Don Ramsay
- Louisa Clare Tippett
- Stephen Richard Ede
- Thomas Michael Alasdair Kerr
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/03/2026 | £294k | £429k |
| 31/03/2025 | £273k | £427k |
| 31/03/2024 | £467k | £387k |
| 31/03/2023 | £389k | £308k |
| 31/03/2022 | £295k | £304k |
Common questions
Is CITIZENS ADVICE COLCHESTER financially healthy?
Per its FY2026 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a deficit of £135,156 for the year, resulting in a decrease in total reserves from £299,034 to £163,878. The trustees note that maintaining sufficient funding remains a continual challenge due to increased demand and rising costs, though they maintain adequate resources for going concern purposes. Its FY2026 accounts were independently examined.
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 08/10/2025 | £20k | Specialist Benefits and Welfare Team |
| UK government | 15/09/2020 | £14k | Coronavirus Community Support Fund |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 01/02/2019 | £45k | Lakes Mental Health Project |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 17/08/2018 | £9k | Greenstead Advice Centre |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 11/02/2010 | £10k | Sustaining Our Services |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| THE ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOUNDATION | 2 | £118k |
| THE MASTER CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £679k |
| THE FRESHFIELD FOUNDATION | 1 | £615k |
| MONEY ADVICE TRUST | 1 | £238k |
| LONDON LEGAL SUPPORT TRUST | 1 | £101k |
| JOHN JAMES BRISTOL FOUNDATION | 1 | £81k |
| THE HEADLEY TRUST | 1 | £60k |
| THE NETHERBY TRUST | 1 | £60k |
Charities like this
- MID SUFFOLK CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU
- Citizens Advice Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
- CITIZENS ADVICE SWANSEA NEATH PORT TALBOT LIMITED
- BATH AND DISTRICT CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU
- NORFOLK CITIZENS ADVICE
- CAMBRIDGE AND DISTRICT CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CITIZENS ADVICE COLCHESTER | £294k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| MID SUFFOLK CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU | £332k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| Citizens Advice Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole | £1.4m | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| CITIZENS ADVICE SWANSEA NEATH PORT TALBOT LIMITED | £1.4m | — | 0 | within | — | no doubt |
| BATH AND DISTRICT CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU | £996k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| NORFOLK CITIZENS ADVICE | £1.9m | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |