What We Do:

When people talk about "Advice" they sometimes mean different things. This page explains what we believe about ourselves.

How we work:

Our service is here to give you advice on how you can best handle your situation; not to take the situation away from you.

Advice is not intervention. We usually think that we have failed if we can’t help you to handle your own situation yourself. There are a few very technical things (like some types of legalistic benefit appeal) where we haven’t yet thought up good ways of empowering our clients; but for the most part we will equip you with information and skills so you can sort things out for yourself; not just once but in case something similar happens again.

We’re here to help you find good solutions to practical issues when you’re not sure what to do and enable you to act on them.

We will always try to think of ideas that allow you to get the outcome you want, but sometimes what a person wants to happen is impossible. If we can’t think of any way you could get what you want, we will not be able to push for what you want because it’s never in a client’s interest to waste time on the impossible.

If this happens, we will:

- explain why we don’t think what you want is possible
- tell you what outcomes we think you could get (in case one of these might be good enough instead); and

In all cases, we will:

- help you understand any obstacles (e.g. laws, regulations, evidence issues) that might stop you getting a good outcome
- make sure you stay “in control” by actively taking part in the search for a good outcome
- keep you informed of all your possible options, and what might happen if you were to try them, so you can always make informed choices.
- be open to feedback if you disagree with our reasoning
- find other advice agencies you could contact for a second opinion if you ask us to do so

Please remember: we are on your side, but do not control the world. Sometimes, it’s impossible to get what a client wants despite our best efforts.

What if you want a different sort of service?

If you’ve decided you need a different sort of service, click here to see our partner guide page: “Complementary
Services".
 

Back to Student Advice Centre main page