Hackney Citizens Advice Bureau calls for volunteers

Did you know that most of the people you’ll see on a visit to Hackney Citizens Advice Bureau are volunteers?

We couldn’t open our doors without the hard work of our volunteers. As well as making a valuable contribution to providing advice and information to the local community on the problems that people face in daily life, volunteering at the CAB is a great way to build up experience and develop new skills.

CAB advice is free, confidential, independent and impartial, and volunteer advisers work through an adviser training programme that has been developed by the national Citizens Advice network.

This covers all the areas of advice that we provide including welfare benefits, housing, debt, immigration, employment, consumer and family issues.

The programme is delivered through a combination of learning in different settings and practical experience giving (fully-supported) advice. Volunteer advisers commit to training for two days a week and the CAB pays towards travel expenses.

Volunteering in a busy bureau is both challenging and rewarding – Adele, who completed her adviser training in July and continues to volunteer as an adviser, says: “When I achieve good results for clients, such as winning disputes against large companies, I feel I’ve made a difference in the local community. The feedback from clients is gratifying and makes it all worthwhile.”

If you would like further information and an application form, please email Andrew Skipper at: askipper@eastendcab.org.uk or telephone 020 8525 6350.