Explore the latest news & stories

At Citizens Advice Rotherham, we don't just help people solve their immediate problems, we look at the bigger picture. By using real client case data, local statistics, and frontline trends, we influence decision-makers to fix the root causes of hardship. We call this Research and Campaigns.

Featured Insight: Rotherham Financial Landscape

(Updated June 2026)

Our latest partnership data shows that financial and debt strains are sharpening across the borough. Debt-related enquiries have spiked significantly, reflecting a 14% rise in cost-of-living pressures year-on-year and a 24% increase in complex debt issues.

Tackling Digital Exclusion and Loneliness in Rotherham

We are launching a new research project to investigate how digital exclusion, difficulties accessing healthcare, and loneliness are impacting the well-being of local residents.

Our goal is to combine internal data with real-life stories from the community to create a powerful evidence-based report. We will use these findings to lobby local MPs for real change and campaign for better funded services to improve patient experiences across Rotherham.

Get involved

We will soon be launching surveys online and visiting local community hubs, supermarkets, and food banks to hear from you directly. Keep an eye on our website and social media to share your story and help us build a more connected Rotherham.

National evidence submissions

Locally, our teams have converted frontline advice sessions into 11 detailed case studies used to submit evidence directly to the national Personal Independent Payment (PIP) and Sir Stephen Timms welfare reviews.

Our 2026/27 Campaign Calendar

We shift our public campaigning every quarter to focus on the most critical issues facing Rotherham:

Current Focus (July – September): Digital Inclusion – with very limited local digital support available, we are spotlighting the severe impact of digital exclusion. We are campaigning for affordable digital connectivity and running back-to-basics training sessions.
Upcoming Focus (October – December): Winter Warmer & Wellbeing – targeting winter fuel poverty, energy costs, and multi-agency seasonal responses to support vulnerable residents during the coldest months.

Case study spotlight

The reality of digital exclusion

The challenge: A 78-year-old resident with visual impairments needed an urgent GP appointment for severe foot pain but was told it could only be requested via an online form. She travelled to the surgery for help but was turned away by reception and told she still had to submit it digitally, leaving her feeling frustrated and excluded.

The support: A Citizens Advice Adviser at the surgery stepped in to guide her through the online form step-by-step.

The outcome: The request went through, and she saw her GP that day, but she shared that she could never do this alone due to her eyesight. As she put it: “I should be able to book an appointment in person or over the phone.”

Real story

Bridging the advice gap

A client facing severe debt-related anxiety was shuffled between phone lines and various outreach venues before reaching our town centre hub. By deploying our newly launched energy Support Packs and providing a warm, immediate handover to an in-house energy expert, we wrote off emergency fuel stress and stabilised their household finance without putting them on a long waiting list.

Real story

Breaking the language wall

Many clients describe entering local support services and feeling blocked by a “language wall” of confusing internal jargon and acronyms.

Through our grassroots community outreach, such as “Cuppa with CARD”, we sit down to chat in plain English, ensuring vulnerable users never feel excluded or judged.

Help us change policies

Are you experiencing an issue that you think is unfair? Your lived experience provides the exact data we need to change local and national laws.

Share your experience

If you have struggled with upfront rental costs, confusing Universal Credit delays, digital access barriers, or disability benefit reviews, we want to hear from you.

Send us your story

Strict confidentiality

We treat your information with total privacy. Local client data sets are entirely de-identified before being used for statistical analysis or shared with trusted research partners like universities. We will never use your identifying details or specific personal story without your explicit, written consent.

Other ways to get involved

Become a Campaign Volunteer

To eliminate “Time Poverty” and accessibility dead-ends, you do not need to wait in long phone queues to make your voice heard – become a Campaign Volunteer.

Our R&C team relies on community volunteers to map local trends and expand campaign capacity. If you want to help fight for the people of Rotherham, apply to join our volunteer network today.