Threat to Citizens Advice?

[girlfriend44]

Listening to money box podcast. It says if your council goes bust, they won't be able to afford to run the ca offices?
Where would everyone go for advice?
Do you think it will happen?
Grim.

I hadn't actually realised that they were, in part, council funded (I knew they get some central government money, other grants, and do their own fundraising too)

I suppose what'll happen will vary by location, depending on how much of a hole the reduction/ending of council grants leaves to that branch. They've had Lottery funding, so perhaps that might patch things up (they can give large sums).

Do you think it will happen?

More people will be unaware of, or unable to enforce their rights. So nothing too bad.

Being cynical, I wonder whether this is going to be a stealth way of getting rid of CAB. After all, getting rid of rights would cause an outcry, but minimising the ability to enforce these rights would largely fly below the radar.
I know this might seem like a non sequitur, but many people now are under the impression that peaceful protest is now illegal, so there is no point voicing dissent on anything, the price is too high. If the government can push the narrative that there is no way of enforcing your rights it is way easier than passing bills to get rid pf those rights.

I know of at least one CAB that has already lost council funding and it will be closing later this month. Many more are merging to save on costs.

It isn't just the CABs either. Specialist advice providers such as law centres typically get local authority funding as well.

Most will probably survive the cuts because they have other sources of funding alongside the local authority money, but many will have to reduce services and some will be forced to close.

It's a false economy in the long run, as it will cost councils and the NHS far more to deal with the fallout from people not being able to access advice when they need it. Sadly, long term thinking is never really a factor for politicians who tend to think in short term electoral cycles.