Berkshire’s Citizens Advice services highlight rising hardship for women and celebrate the women leading the response
All four Local Citizens Advice services across Berkshire — Citizens Advice East Berkshire, Citizens Advice West Berkshire, Citizens Advice Reading and Citizens Advice Wokingham — have come together for the first time to warn of the growing number of women seeking help with debt, housing insecurity, benefits issues and mental health challenges.
At the same time, the charities are marking an important moment for the county: Berkshire is one of the only regions in the UK where every Local Citizens Advice service is led by a woman.
Women are being disproportionately affected across Berkshire
Across the four services, women make up the majority of people seeking support. They often face complex and multiple challenges linked to financial strain, rising housing costs, poor mental health, and discrimination at work.
Recent local data shows:
- At Citizens Advice East Berkshire (CAEB), 57% of clients last year were women.
- 41% of the women supported by CAEB had a disability or long‑term health condition — with mental health as the most common issue.
- At Citizens Advice Reading, 54% of people supported last year were women, many in debt or housing crisis.
To meet this increasing demand, Berkshire’s four women-led Citizens Advice services work closely together to coordinate support, share learning and improve access to help.
Nicola Miller, CEO at Citizens Advice East Berkshire, said:
Women have been at the heart of Citizens Advice since the very beginning, and today their contribution is stronger than ever. We are immensely proud to stand together across Berkshire — four women leading four services — working collectively to ensure our communities receive high-quality support when they need it most. We campaign to remove barriers to support and ensure our advice services are accessible to all.
Isabel Esperança, Chief Officer at Citizens Advice West Berkshire, commented:
International Women’s Day is a great chance to recognise the women who have shaped Citizens Advice from the very beginning, and the women delivering and leading the service today.
I’m proud that across Berkshire, our local Citizens Advice services are led by women – and we’re not working in isolation. We stay closely connected, share learning, and support each other to keep improving how people experience our services. At Citizens Advice West Berkshire, the last three Chief Officers have all been women, and that continuity of leadership matters – it helps us stay grounded in our values and keep our service welcoming, inclusive and fair for everyone in our community.
Tina Stevenson, CEO at Citizens Advice Reading, said:
Citizens Advice has always been about people helping people. I feel proud to work alongside so many talented and professional colleagues across Reading and Berkshire who give their time, expertise and compassion to support others and help people find a way forward.
Last year Citizens Advice Reading helped 8,792 people, and 54 percent of those supported identified as women, many seeking help with issues including debt, housing and benefits. Advisers also helped secure an estimated £14.6 million in financial outcomes for people in the community who sought our help.
This International Women’s Day we celebrate the women who have shaped Citizens Advice over the past 85 years and those who continue to support people in Reading today.
Rachel Hassan, CEO at Citizens Advice Wokingham, said:
On International Women’s Day, I reflect on the power of women’s leadership and the importance of representation.
As a woman of colour and CEO of Citizens Advice Wokingham, I am proud to be part of a community of women who lead with courage, compassion, and purpose. Every day I see the incredible impact that advocacy, support, and empowerment can have on people’s lives.
But progress happens when we lift each other up. When we open doors for others, challenge barriers, and ensure that every woman – regardless of background – has the opportunity to thrive.
Today we celebrate the achievements of women everywhere, while continuing the work to build a more equal and equitable future.
Women leading the response to crisis
Berkshire’s four local Citizens Advice services collaborate regularly to understand local need, improve service accessibility, and ensure women facing hardship get the support they need – whether that’s financial advice, help challenging discrimination, support with unsafe housing, or guidance during a health crisis.
Together, they continue the legacy of the earliest Citizens Advice pioneers of practical help and social justice that remains core to the services today.