Community first: Places for People supports Citizens Advice Office and Community Hub to strengthen local Services in St Neots
28 July 2025
A new Citizens Advice Rural Cambs (CARC) office has opened its doors in St Neots, bringing expanded support services to the community through a powerful social impact partnership with Places for People (PfP), the UK’s leading social enterprise.
The new office on St Mary’s Street will increase access to face-to-face drop-in services and provide a welcoming space for other community organisations to deliver advice and support, as well as a space where the PfP housing team will be able to meet customers and offer advice and support. The initiative is part of PfP’s commitment to creating thriving communities by investing in local infrastructure and services.
The building, leased to CARC by PfP at a reduced rent, has been revitalised with the help of PfP’s supply chain partners and volunteers. Contributions included new windows from Mullens, furniture from PfP, a volunteer day involving PfP and CARC staff in May, and a grant from Travis Perkins Legacy Fund that financed signage, office equipment, and relocation support. PfP also cleared the debt left by previous tenants to ensure a fresh start for the new occupants.
“This project is about more than bricks and mortar - it’s about building stronger, more resilient communities,” said Jamie Dickinson, Group Head of Social Impact at Places for People. “By supporting Citizens Advice and investing in local services, we’re helping our Customers access the support they need to thrive.”
This project is about more than bricks and mortar - it’s about building stronger, more resilient communities
The official opening was led by the Town Mayor, Richard Slade. Ian Sollom MP and Clerk to St Neots Town Council Chris Robson also attended, along with the Chair of CARC Neil McKittrick, who was joined by staff and volunteers from CARC and PfP.*
Nick Blencowe, CEO from CARC said “We’re thrilled to be opening a new Citizens Advice office and community hub in St Neots, thanks to the generous support of Places for People. This is an exciting opportunity to bring vital, free, and impartial advice closer to the heart of the community. Whether it’s help with housing, benefits, debt, or employment, we will be able to better support local people and make a positive difference in their everyday lives.”
Richard Slade, Mayor of St Neots who officially opened the hub commented: “Community hubs are a vital lifeline for those who cannot access essential services via phone or online. It’s fantastic to see that, through a collaborative effort between like-minded organisations, St Neots once again has a Citizens Advice Bureau on its high-street.
“By working in partnership, Places for People and Citizens Advice Bureau have not only brought a previously empty unit back into use but are providing residents with access to impartial advice and a range of wider community services. This is a brilliant example of how we can reinvigorate our town centres while supporting our residents.”
This project is the latest part of a wider £60,000 investment PfP have made in the local area of Huntingdonshire during 2024/25, which has leveraged £110,000 in additional community value. Other initiatives include:
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£33,500 in direct financial benefit to 81 customers
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A National Lottery-backed Community Wellbeing Hub at the Coneygear Centre in Huntingdon, which is believed to be one of the most significant social funding in the area in two decades. The centre hosts a variety of sessions and activities to enhance and improve the wellbeing of the local community including self-esteem, arts and craft, family fun, cooking on a budget, snack shack, life coach, seasonal events and drop-in sessions.
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A digital inclusion programme offering weekly sessions to help residents access essential online services
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Providing a local volunteer-run community clothes swap with storage that provided over 1200 clothing items to people, most from low-income households
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Supporting Christmas Hampers for over 1,000 people in low-income households
Jamie Dickinson continued: “At PfP, social impact isn’t an add-on - it’s at the core of everything we do. Whether it’s supporting financial wellbeing, tackling digital exclusion, or creating spaces where Communities can thrive, we’re committed to making a meaningful difference. This project in Huntingdon is a great example of how we bring that commitment to life, working with partners to deliver real, lasting impact. As a leading social enterprise, we’re proud to invest in people and places in ways that help communities grow stronger together.”