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03-06-2008
Volunteers are the heart of the Citizens Advice service and for Volunteers Week (1-7 June 2008) Citizens Advice - the local charity which helps people resolve their legal, money and other problems by providing free information and advice - is calling on people of all ages and backgrounds to volunteer with them.
Many people are not aware that most people working in Citizens Advice Bureaux are, in fact, volunteers.
In the last year over 20 thousand volunteers gave the Citizens Advice service a massive 121,743 hours a week of their time, ensuring that, on average, 5.5 million problems are dealt with a year.
Everyone from young school leavers, to retired CEOs, to back to work mums are encouraged to get in touch with their local Citizens Advice Bureau if they are interested in volunteering. Volunteers are needed for a variety of roles: to train as advisers, work as receptionists, to help out with marketing, finance and campaigning - right through to sitting on the trustee board.
The benefits of volunteering are vast and include the opportunity to acquire new skills alongside giving something back to the community. Volunteering with CAB could you get your first job after school, help you return to work confidently after an absence, or fill your day once retired. It’s also great for your health - over 60% of volunteers in a recent survey said it made them less stressed. (2004, ICM Research findings commissioned for CSV (Community Service Volunteers) and Barclays.) Plus, if you train as an adviser you could gain an NVQ level qualification.
Howard Batley is a volunteer adviser with Bath CAB. He volunteered after retiring from work following a diagnosis of MS and soon became an invaluable member of the team. He says:
"After retiring from my job I couldn’t bear the thought of sitting around all day long, so I volunteered with my local bureau. After a short while as a general advisor I specialised in money advice and started representing clients at court hearings. I’m also a strong advocate for disability issues in the local area. Every day is different at the bureau and I’m constantly learning new skills and facing new challenges."
Beth Taylor, volunteer specialist at Citizens Advice says:
"It’s essential that our volunteers reflect the diverse backgrounds of the communities in which they work. So no matter who you are, as long as you’re interested in volunteering, we would love to hear from you. Pop into your local branch, or call 08451 264264 (local rate) to find out more."
Over 28 million people* are involved in volunteering in the UK every year and Volunteers Week is an opportunity for organisations to publicly recognise the work of their volunteers. It also aims to raise the awareness of the benefits of giving time, inspiring a new generation of volunteers. Volunteers’ Week is co-ordinated in England by Volunteering England.
Notes to editors on Citizens Advice
- The Citizens Advice service is a network of independent charities that helps people resolve their money, legal and other problems by providing information and advice and by influencing policymakers. For more information in England and Wales;
 www.citizensadvice.org.uk
- The advice provided by the Citizens Advice service is free, independent, confidential, and impartial, and available to everyone regardless of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, age or nationality.
- Most Citizens Advice service staff are trained volunteers, working at over 3,300 locations across England and Wales.
- Advice and information www.adviceguide.org.uk
- Volunteer hotline 08451 264264 (local rate)
- Citizens Advice Guide to your rights, second edition: January 2008 - over 600 pages of practical, independent CAB advice. An invaluable resource for any bookshelf - available from all good bookshops; price £11.99; ISBN: 9780141034089
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