Newton Abbot mayor warns of ‘disaster’ if urgent action not taken for local charity

The Mayor of Newton Abbot has praised the work of Citizens Advice in Teignbridge, launching a public call for new trustees to support the charity.

Newton Abbot Town Council issued a statement on behalf of the town’s Mayor, Colin Parker, raising concerns about the current number of trustees at Citizens Advice Teignbridge.

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Councillors were told that thousands of people across Teignbridge rely on the charity’s services, however, following recent departures, there are now only four trustees overseeing its work. 

The Mayor said the board is “only just quorate”, meaning it has the minimum number of trustees required to operate formally.

Cllr Parker also pointed to uncertainty over future funding because of ongoing local government reorganisation, which he said had cast doubts about long-term financial stability.

He told councillors: “I made Citizens Advice my charity of the year as the work they do helps so many people across Newton Abbot and the wider district.”

He warned of the impact if the charity were no longer able to operate. 

“While it continues to provide an amazing range of services, and external reviews show Teignbridge CA to be in good shape, imagine what a disaster it would be should it ever have to close,” he said.

Citizens Advice Teignbridge provides free, confidential and impartial advice to people facing a range of issues, including debt, housing and benefits. 

The charity serves a population of around 130,000 across the district and handles thousands of enquiries each year, with most of its 100 strong team being trained volunteers.

In October 2025, Newton Abbot Town Council agreed to award the charity a grant of £5,500 after hearing that demand for its services was at an all-time high.

Encouraging people to consider becoming trustees, Cllr Parker said: “There are no formal qualifications needed to become a trustee,” adding that life experience and perspective were valuable qualities.

He said he was “more than happy to use my position as Mayor to highlight their fantastic work and do what I can to find new trustees.”

Residents interested in becoming a trustee are urged to contact Newton Abbot Town Council for further information.