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Volunteers Week: Opportunities at your local CAB

29 May 2009

During National Volunteers' Week (1-7 June 2009) Citizens Advice, which relies on the generous contribution of volunteers, is calling on anyone who has considered volunteering to get in touch.

Volunteers are needed for a variety of roles: to train as advisers, to campaign on social policy issues, to work as receptionists or help out with marketing and finance - right through to sitting on the trustee board. Anyone interested in volunteering, from young school leavers and students, to retired CEO’s, to back to work Mums or those who may have recently lost their jobs are encouraged to get in touch with their local Citizens Advice Bureau.

The benefits of volunteering are vast and include the opportunity to acquire new skills while giving something back to the community. For example, volunteers can get involved in the Citizens Advice service’s campaign work. At both a local and national level the service draws on the experience of its clients, to campaign on issues as diverse as the enforcement of employment tribunal payments, stronger protection for tenants and highlighting the barriers faced by lone parents in returning to work.

Mike is a young volunteer with Sedgemoor CAB. He says:

“I volunteer with my bureau as an IT coordinator as well as working freelance. I can fit volunteering in with my day to day life as it’s so flexible. Also, I’m enjoying learning new skills that otherwise you’d often have to pay to train for.”

Beth Taylor Dean, Volunteer Specialist at Citizens Advice says:

“Over the last year over 20 thousand volunteers enabled the Citizens Advice service to deal with 5.5 million problems With the recession biting harder, increased demand on our services means an increased need for volunteers. As every Citizens Advice Bureau is an independent charity, each CAB therefore recruits its own volunteers. To find out more about the volunteering opportunities in your area pop into your local CAB, or visit the Citizens Advice website. Alternatively, you can call 08451 264264 (local rate) and one of our advisers will help you find your nearest recruiting CAB, take your details and email them directly.”

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 Volunteers' Week

  1. Volunteers’ Week is an initiative of Volunteering England, Wales Council for Voluntary Action, Volunteer Development Agency (Northern Ireland) and Volunteer Development Scotland.
  2. In 2009 we will be celebrating 25 years of Volunteers’ Week and will focus on rewarding, recognising and recruiting volunteers.
  3. For more information please visit New windowwww.volunteersweek.org.uk

Notes to editors

  1. The Citizens Advice service comprises a network of local bureaux, all of which are independent charities, and national charity Citizens Advice. Together we help people resolve their money, legal and other problems by providing information and advice and by influencing policymakers. For more information in England and Wales see www.citizensadvice.org.uk
  2. 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. For online advice and information see New windowwww.adviceguide.org.uk
  3. Citizens Advice Bureaux in England and Wales advised 2.1 million clients on 7.1 million problems from April 2010 to March 2011. For full 2010/2011 service statistics see: www.citizensadvice.org.uk/press_statistics
  4. Out of 22 national charities, the Citizens Advice service is ranked by the general public as being the most helpful, approachable, professional, informative, effective / cost effective, reputable and accountable. (nfpSynergy’s Brand Attributes survey, May 2010).
  5. Most Citizens Advice service staff are trained volunteers, working at around 3,300 service outlets across England and Wales.