About us

Advicehub is a partnership initiative, led by the four Cambridgeshire CABs, set up to find new ways to increase people’s access to advice across the county.  Led by a small team based at Cambridge CAB, Advicehub has set up a Partnership Forum of over 40 advice agencies and is using innovative technologies, such as touchscreen kiosks, to ensure that people get access to advice when and where they need it most.

Over 40 advice organisations have joined the Partnership Forum.  In October 2011 they held an event in Cambridge to debate the future of consumer advice in the light of the Government’s forthcoming reforms to the way it is currently delivered.  Chaired by Alex Plant, an Executive Director of Cambridgeshire County Council, a panel of experts including Gillian Guy, Chief Executive of Citizen’s Advice; Dianne Jeffrey, Chair of Age UK; and Leon Livermore, Chairman of the Trading Standards Institute, shared their views with over 100 representatives from local advice agencies.  Read more here

ICT

A network of self-help touchscreen kiosks is being built across the county.  Stretching from Wisbech in the north to Sawston in the south, there are currently 15 touchscreen Advicehub kiosks in community locations – meaning that people can find advice easily and often without having to travel from their own area, a huge benefit for residents of remote rural areas.  Statistics from the kiosks show us that an average of over 10,000 people use this new technology every month to find answers to common issues including debt, welfare benefits, housing, employment, and family & relationships.  Click here to see a map of kiosk sites to find your nearest location.

Background

Advicehub was set up in 2009 as a response to the growing demand for advice services in Cambridgeshire.  It gets funding from the Big Lottery Fund and has also been supported by Cambridge City Council, South Cambridgeshire District Council, EEDA, and Business Link.