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Citizens Advice is really pleased to be a member of the Network for Black Professionals. At a time when communities are facing more and more complex problems due to the effects of the economic downturn, we need to work in partnership with more organisations to better help our millions of clients.
Citizens Advice supports the extensive network of Citizens Advice Bureaux, as well as being a powerful lobbying organisation for improvement of social conditions. In all aspects of our work, we recognise the positive value of diversity, promote equality and challenge discrimination.
We value how our differences enrich our communities and improve our effectiveness at work. We know from experience it’s only by having diverse staff, volunteers and clients that we can properly understand the effects of discrimination, marginalisation and exclusion – and challenge them. The better we understand, the stronger we become at creating a fairer, more inclusive society.
The Citizens Advice service helps people to resolve their legal, money and other problems by providing free, independent and confidential information, advice and casework, and by influencing policy makers. Through a network of over 3,000 outlets across England and Wales, last year we helped over 2 million people.
If you are interested in contributing to our work and making a real difference in people’s lives when they feel they have nowhere else to turn, there are many opportunities within the Citizens Advice service.
You could:
• Consider volunteering within your local Citizens Advice Bureau. We offer a wide variety of volunteer roles and our volunteers have many different reasons for being part of our service, but one thing that unites them all is that they find it challenging, rewarding and varied. If you would like to use your skills and experience in a volunteering role to support – either directly or indirectly – people facing problems such as discrimination, loss of their jobs and homes, multiple debts, relationship problems and navigating the welfare benefits system, find out more by reading the full article.
Citizens Advice is a well established advice network of over 380 individual charities. It supports people directly at the time they need that support most. People can choose to access the CAB service via the internet, email, telephone or face-to-face in thousands of locations including health centres, schools, universities, prisons, community centres and libraries.
Last year, we gave advice on over seven million issues to over two million people. Debbie was one of the people who came into a bureau as a client and decided to become a volunteer. She visited Solihull bureau in 2009 when she was experiencing difficulties with her relationship and finances.
“Pam, the receptionist I spoke to, I will never forget. She gave me the courage to go through with getting advice that day. I met Peter and Sue who, like all the volunteer advisers, have never been judgmental, and the support I received I could not fault. They gave me back my life and strength.
I sent a thank you card. I couldn’t offer anything financially but I offered my time if they needed any help, and that’s how I started as a volunteer receptionist and administrator.
I volunteer every week and I feel the important work is on reception. I hope I relay that compassion I first had from Pam.
I run up the hill on the days that I volunteer! In a funny way its my sanctuary, even though everyone I am seeing there is having problems. I just want to show support and gratitude to the people who helped me. Without them, I wouldn’t be the person I am today – happy!”
The Citizens Advice service is mainly provided by volunteers. There are over 21,000 of them in all sorts of roles providing support from three hours a month to five days a week, depending on their personal circumstances. They work as advisers, caseworkers, administrators, policy campaigners, advice assessors, trustees, specialists, fundraisers and more. We need people of all ages and backgrounds and with a wide variety of skills and life experience. Full training and support is given in every role, tailored to the individual volunteer’s needs.
By volunteering for the Citizens Advice service you’ll be playing an active part in improving the lives of millions of people and influencing the development of national and local policies and services.
If you would like to read more stories like Debbie’s, or want to learn more about volunteering with a charity that really does make a difference to people’s lives, take a look at our website: http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/ | 
