CAML Spring 2025 Update
We are Citizens Advice Merton and Lambeth (CAML). We’ve been around for 85 years helping people in Merton and Lambeth solve their problems. We’d like to take a moment to reintroduce ourselves. We are a local charity working for everyone in Lambeth and Merton — whoever they are, whatever their problems. We give free, impartial and completely independent advice to tens of thousands of people every year.
3,000+ people helped with benefits
In 2024 we advised over 3,000 people with 14,000 issues with their benefits and 2,000 people with 9,000 housing issues. This shows just how complicated our clients’ problems are.
Volunteers in Action
Our volunteers do amazing work to help clients tackle their problems and prevent the problems from arising. Take Stephanie - she realized that clients were being rehoused without even basic furnishings - local grant giving charities just can’t keep up with demand. She made a list of sources of free or inexpensive furniture in Merton and in Lambeth and a guide to what to think about when accepting or buying second hand furnishings. Clients have found this really useful.
Our volunteers come in all shapes and sizes, interests and abilities – here’s some information about volunteering with CAML.
In Sickness and in Health
Many local people rely benefits to help cope with sickness and disability. In the first 3 months of this year, over 60% of our clients were disabled or had long term health conditions. More than 300 people living or working in Merton and Lambeth needed our help with their PIP (Personal Independence Payment). Ramzi was one of them.
Keep in Touch
We are the people’s champion. We have outreach centers throughout Merton and Lambeth from Colliers Wood Library to the Lambeth Town Hall in Brixton. Together with the support of commissioners, partners and funders, we work to ensure access to social justice and support is available to everyone in the communities we serve.
If you’re interested in working with Citizens Advice Merton and Lambeth and wish to discuss a potential commission or contract, please contact Simon Shimmens, our Chief Executive.