Citizens Advice East Berkshire CEO Nicola Miller attended the Bank of England’s Community Forum on November 20 along with partner organisations including Foodshare and Slough CVS.
The round-table event was held at The Langley Academy.
Nicola shared her insights from the forum:
“These events are designed to give charities and community organisations a chance to share what life really looks like for the people we serve. The Bank says it wants to listen and learn from underrepresented voices. That’s welcome, but let’s be honest: listening alone doesn’t change anything. Policy decisions and economic impact sit firmly in their hands, not ours.
“For Citizens Advice East Berkshire, this was an opportunity we couldn’t ignore. We see the impact of economic decisions every single day. In Slough alone, we supported 2,228 clients with 14,594 issues last year. Behind those numbers are people facing impossible choices, such as between heating and eating, paying rent or council tax. Benefits, debt, and housing make up 70% of the issues we handle locally, and most debt cases involve council tax arrears, utilities, and rent. These are real lives under strain.
“I told Bank of England Deputy Governor Dave Ramsden that the third sector is propping up society – and we can’t sustain it. We’re struggling to meet demand while funding is being cut. We can’t offer pay rises that even keep pace with inflation. Meanwhile, the cost-of-living crisis continues to bite. Leadership matters – whether in charities or banks – because it shapes culture, resources, and visibility. Communities need leaders who show up and understand what’s happening on the ground.
“Other organisations echoed similar concerns: barriers to employment, lack of visibility from local authorities and statutory services, and the need for dignity in face-to-face support. When Dave asked what businesses can do, someone said “be trustees.” I added that while commercial skills are useful, boards need people who truly understand the charity sector’s challenges. And I made it clear: we all need to become more sustainable, diversify income, and move away from relying so heavily on grants and donations.
“Will this forum change everything? No. But it matters to us because it’s a rare chance to influence policymakers with the reality we see every day. It also gave me a platform to feed our research and campaigns into conversations that shape the bigger picture. If the Bank of England wants to understand what’s happening beyond the spreadsheets, they need to keep listening and start acting.”