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At the heart of everything we do 

Advice is only half of what we do. The other half is making sure that what we learn from thousands of conversations with Hillingdon residents doesn't just stay in a case file. It gets used to change things. 
 
Every year we see the same problems land on our desks again and again: benefits that don't cover the basics, landlords who won't fix disrepair, energy suppliers who make it hard to get help, council processes that quietly make life harder for the people who can least afford it. No one else in the borough sees this volume and range of evidence. That gives us a responsibility, and an opportunity, that goes beyond any one appointment. 
 
Research & Campaigns is how we act on that evidence. We gather it, analyse it, and use it to influence the decision-makers who can actually fix the root causes, not just the symptoms. Without this work, we could only ever treat problems one client at a time. With it, we can help stop those problems happening to the next person, and the person after that. 
 
How we do it: 
We gather evidence from our advice sessions, surveys, focus groups, and stories shared directly by residents, always anonymised and always with consent. 
We analyse it to spot patterns: is this one person's bad luck, or a systemic issue affecting hundreds of people across the borough? 
We use it to influence change: briefing local councillors and MPs, responding to council and government consultations, working with partner organisations, and speaking to the media when it helps put pressure where it's needed. 
We campaign publicly so residents can add their voice too, through petitions, template letters to decision-makers, and by sharing their own experiences. 
We gather evidence from our advice sessions, surveys, focus groups, and stories shared directly by residents, always anonymised and always with consent. 
We analyse it to spot patterns: is this one person's bad luck, or a systemic issue affecting hundreds of people across the borough? 
We use it to influence change: briefing local councillors and MPs, responding to council and government consultations, working with partner organisations, and speaking to the media when it helps put pressure where it's needed. 
We campaign publicly so residents can add their voice too, through petitions, template letters to decision-makers, and by sharing their own experiences. 
How we influence change: 
Contributing evidence to national Citizens Advice campaigns. 
Working with local partners and decision-makers. 
Supporting coordinated, place-based responses. 
 
 
Backed by the national Citizens Advice network 
 
Citizens Advice Hillingdon is part of the national Citizens Advice charity, a network of independent local offices across England and Wales. That membership matters here: evidence we submit locally feeds into a national picture that Citizens Advice uses to lobby government and hold big organisations to account, and in turn we draw on national research, policy expertise and campaign resources that no local charity could build alone. It's a two-way relationship: local evidence shapes national change, and national weight strengthens our local campaigns. 
 
Read how Citizens Advice nationally uses research and feedback here  
 
Our Current campaign: Council Tax changes: 
Are you paying more for Council tax?? 
 
From April 2026, changes to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme mean some residents, including some people receiving PIP, have lost protections they previously had, and non-dependant deductions now apply more widely. This could mean higher bills for disabled residents, low-income households, and families who already have the least room to absorb a rise. 
 
At Citizens Advice Hillingdon, We're gathering evidence on how these changes are affecting local residents: what's changed on your bill, whether you were told in advance, the financial and wellbeing impact, and any support you've had. Every story helps us show councillors and decision-makers the real impact behind the statistics, and strengthens the case for a fairer scheme. 
 
Tell us how the changes have affected you. Everything you share is confidential and helps build evidence for change. 
 
Get involved 
 
You don't need to be an expert to help change things for the better, you just need to have noticed something isn't working. You can help by: 
 
Sharing your own experience with us, in confidence 
Signing and sharing our current campaign 
 
Email us here 
Volunteering with our Research & Campaigns team: find out more about volunteering here  
 
Every story, survey response and piece of feedback adds to the evidence base that lets us speak with authority, and that's what makes change possible, both here in Hillingdon and across the country.