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Citizens Advice recreates wartime service

BBC A modern photo of an old-fashioned looking horsebox with a serving counter, painted blue, with a sign saying "Citizens Advice Bureau". The woman in the horsebox, the woman she's talking to and the man and woman standing next to it are all dressed in period costumes. There are balloons and flags saying "happy 85th birthday" on the horsebox.BBC
Staff celebrated Citizens Advice Portsmouth's 85th birthday in Guildhall Square

One of the first branches of Citizens Advice has recreated its wartime service to celebrate its 85th anniversary.

Citizens Advice Portsmouth was established in 1939 to act as an emergency service at the beginning of World War Two, when it was one of just 20 branches.

An event was held recreating the service as it was then, complete with a horsebox office and wartime music, entertainment and clothing.

CEO of Citizens Advice Portsmouth Sandy Bramley said the service "saves lives", and that demand was growing "all the time".

Citizens Advice was set-up to help pre-war Britain cope with a number of things including drops in household income following conscription, lost ration books, evacuation, and homelessness due to bombing attacks.

Citizens Advice A grainy black and white photo of an old horsebox with a sign outside saying 'Citizens Advice Bureau'.Citizens Advice
Citizens Advice Portsmouth was based in a horsebox in Guildhall Square

Now, the top five issues the charity helps with are benefits, debt and money, utilities, housing, and immigration advice, according to community project lead Sarah Atkinson.

But Ms Bramley said the service dealt with "literally everything".

"People find themselves often in situations they've never been in before and they don't know where to turn," she said.

"We're the first door they normally walk through and we can point them in the right direction.

"If we can't help them, we know who can."

A lady with long red hair and wearing a purple dress singing into a microphone with a marquee, bunting and some people in soft focus behind her.
Wendy Adams Evans, who sang at the event, said Citizens Advice helped her in the past

The event on Wednesday featured songs from the 1940s, and actors from the local Groundlings Theatre in period costume.

Wendy Adams Evans, who sang at the event, said she was "thrilled" to take part because the service was invaluable when her sister was diagnosed with dementia and struggled to access support because of her young age.

"They got her some funding to keep her going and just gave their advice and time so willingly," she said.

"I'll never forget [it]."

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