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Research & Campaigns

What is Research & Campaigns?

The stories our clients tell us provide CAY with a unique insight into the problems faced by people in York today. Research & Campaigns involves analysing this information to gain deeper insight into issues we have identified as systemic and discriminatory. We then use this research to campaign for positive change on behalf of our clients.

Campaigns often involve getting decisionmakers to change harmful policies and practices, but they can take a number of forms. For example, they might also include raising public awareness of a particular issue or giving people the tools and confidence to exercise their rights.

Examples of our Research & Campaigns work include:

  • 2025-2026: We are currently putting together a report based on our joint consultation response, drawing conclusions from the evidence presented in the response about the key factors needed in structuring sickness and disability benefits.
  • 2025: Coordinating a response from Citizens Advice York and seven other organisations working in York on health and disability, to the DWP consultation on the Pathways to Work green paper.
  • We also shared our concerns with our MPs in preparation for the debate on the proposed changes that were included in the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill. We were very pleased that many of the proposed changes were actually removed from the Bill and the Timms Review was set up by the Government to work jointly with disabled people and their representatives on any necessary changes.
  • 2020-2021: Completing a report on digital exclusion during the pandemic, and planning an online panel discussion on 10 June 2021 bringing local experts together to discuss the findings.
  • 2018-2019: Working with the York University Students’ Union (YUSU) to investigate the problems facing students in the private rental sector. Report with recommendations to be released in spring/summer 2021.
  • 2015: Successfully securing changes to local Council Tax Support after campaigning based on recommendations in our report “Every Penny Counts“.

Read our reports

You can access our reports below. Until 2017 CAY published under the title ‘Advice York’, an umbrella network of local service providers. You can access all Advice York reports on their website by clicking on the report picture.

Aligning Policy and Reality report by Citizens Advice York and partners
This report was produced by Citizens Advice York with assistance from and the support of seven other York organisations. It sets out why we believe the changes suggested in the ‘Pathways to Work’ Paper would not achieve its aims and makes recommendations for changing the system so that it is better able to achieve them.

We were very concerned about the impact of the proposed changes to sickness and disability benefits put forward in the Pathways to Work Green Paper. We coordinated a response from interested organisations in York for the DWP consultation on the Bill. This is a summary of our joint response.

This report, produced in collaboration with YUSU, uses the results of a CAY survey to better understand the problems facing students living in the private rented sector.
This report highlights the changes in our client data during lockdown I and compares this to the same period in 2019. It frames results in terms of disability, gender, age and ward. We are currently designing a new Outreach project based on some of the findings in this report.
This report evaluates a 2-year project CAY delivered in partnership with Priory Medical Group, providing advice within two GP surgeries in areas of high need. The Outreach service was successful and is still in place today.
Published by Advice York, this report outlines how advice provided by Advice York partner agencies has improved the lives of York residents.
One of CAY’s most successful reports, this mixed-methods study further analyses the negative impact of Localised Council Tax Support in York, which had replaced the national Council Tax Benefit scheme in 2013. It led to positive changes in how Council Tax Support is structured both locally and nationally.
This report contains initial research Advice York published on the impact of Council Tax Support in York. It documents people struggling to pay their Council Tax and still afford essential costs. This led to a local campaign that resulted in the City of York Council reviewing the scheme.
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) was supposed to support individuals unable to work due to being sick or disabled. However, this report reveals how poorly designed rules were making it difficult to determine who is fit for work. It was part of a wider campaign calling on the Government to make ESA fit for work.
Published before Universal Credit was introduced, this report warns of the dangers of the new system being ‘digital by default’. It highlights the possible adverse impact on many of the people who need benefits, who often don’t use the internet.
This report evaluates CAY’s Gypsy and Traveller Outreach service, which was first established in 2012 with York Travellers Trust, and points out key issues facing this group. Our Outreach service with Travellers Trust has been successful and continues to this day.