With a budgeted loss of £60,907 forecast, the charity has posted a loss of £63,520 for 2022. It is also warning of "continuing and urgent challenges" throughout this year and up to 2025.

"We believe these numbers reflect a prudent forecast and a fund-raising target rather than accepting them as forecast losses," wrote Maggie Thompson, the CAG Treasurer, in the 2022 annual report. 

Pictured: The 2022 CAG annual report can be read HERE.

Ms Thompson acknowledged that the previous healthy balances maintained by CAG had left the charity at a disadvantage when it came to applying for donations and grants, but that as its finances have fallen into a more negative pattern they will continue to apply for contributions to enable its work to continue.

Ms Thompson calculated the charity's current balance at £186,871. 

"Since last year, our forecasts have indicated that CAG will bear repeated year-on-year deficits but, when funding for charities is limited, we have faced resistance from grant givers to provide additional financial support whilst we held significant reserves. Now those reserves are rapidly eroding.

"The Management Committee is actively pursuing numerous funding opportunities from the public and private sectors to ensure that CAG will thrive and continue to provide its quality service to our community long into the future."

CAG's expenses have increased with extra operating costs incurred as IT systems were upgraded, and premises needed redecorating. Staffing changes saw changes to the charity's wage bill.

Tens of thousands of pounds are raised for CAG each year by the Friends of Citizens Advice. That was set up 20 years ago and has contributed more than a million pounds in total over the past two decades. 

Pictured: The new CAG shop at Mont Arrive.

The charity shop on the Bridge was relocated to new premises at Mont Arrive during 2022, while other fundraising events were held, including afternoon teas and flag days. 

The shop alone raised £55,176 in 2022 while all fundraising combined reached a total of £68,049 for Citizens Advice.

Writing in the annual report, Alison Vine echoed that 2022 had been a challenging year for fundraisers.

"Having been relatively comfortable financially for the last decade or more, in 2022 it became apparent that our financial stability was seriously under threat and that we run the risk of eating through our reserves quite rapidly in the next year or two."

Ms Vine was concerned that the closure of the Friends of Citizens Advice shop and its relocation to new premises has cost the charity, but she is confident the move will pay off.

"While the net revenue generated by the new shop will not match the contribution previously generated and will leave a shortfall that will need to be met elsewhere we are very happy with the new iteration of the shop," she wrote.

Pictured: Citizen Advice offers free services in Guernsey.

Citizens Advice Guernsey is a member of the National Citizens Advice network. It has trained advisers who offer a free and confidential service, with information available on almost any subject.

The 2022 annual report confirmed that hundreds of people in Guernsey are "facing some very difficult and stressful problems" with many centred around housing and the cost of living.

CAG said "these difficulties place a great deal of stress on families and on relationships".

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