WIREDGOV

During a time of continued economic uncertainty and cuts to public services, the value placed on volunteering is higher than ever. During National Volunteers Week (1-7 June 2011) national charity Citizens Advice is calling on people from all backgrounds with different skills to get in touch.

Citizens Advice relies heavily on the generous contribution of volunteers who make up 75 per cent of the total workforce, and this year the charity needs even more volunteers than ever. Last year* the service saw a huge increase in demand: 2.1 million people were helped with 7.1 million enquires – an 18 per cent increase from the year before.

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. Opportunities are flexible, depending on the amount of time people want to commit. Some volunteers help out for a short period while others have supported Citizens Advice for many years. In 2009/10 a strong core of 10 per cent of Citizens Advice volunteers had dedicated between ten and twenty years of service.

Volunteering experience is also a very valuable way to enhance skills. Of the volunteer advisers who left the service in 2009/10, 27 per cent left for paid employment and nine per cent went into further education.

Chief Executive of Citizens Advice Gillian Guy said: “As a result of the many recent reforms and cuts to services, as well as the biggest shake-up of welfare benefits for decades, Citizens Advice Bureaux across England and Wales are facing increasing demand and our work influencing policy is more essential than ever. Our volunteers give over £106 million worth of hours a year between them. Without their passion and generosity the service would struggle to survive and the cost to the economy of unresolved problems would soar.

“Every Citizens Advice Bureau across England and Wales is an independent charity and each CAB 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 to fill in an online form which emails the bureau on your behalf - www.citizensadvice.org.uk/volunteer_bureau_search”

Citizens Advice aims to recruit volunteers from diverse backgrounds and all age groups. Last year 17 per cent of new volunteers were black, Asian or minority ethnic and 19 per cent of new volunteers were under the age of 25 – two groups under-represented in formal volunteering statistics**.

Sheila volunteers as a trained adviser with Stretford CAB. She says “I get a real feeling of satisfaction from making a difference, especially for people less able to stand up for their rights.”

Kail is a CAB trustee. He says “As a CAB trustee, my voice is heard, and with other trustees we can bring about change collectively.”

Jagdeve volunteers as an administrator. He says “I wanted to get more experience of admin work and help the community at the same time. I’ve gained lots of skills and confidence and learned more about my local community.”

Volunteers Week is co-ordinated in England by Volunteering England and is celebrating its 27th year. It is an opportunity for organisations to publicly recognise the work of their volunteers. This year is also the European Year of Volunteering 2011. In the UK over 40 per cent of adults volunteer, this is much higher than the European average of 20 per cent***.  

** DCLG Citizenship Survey statistics (2008-09). 2008-09 Citizenship Survey Volunteering and Charitable Giving Topic Report - http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/statistics/pdf/1547056.pdf.

*** Volunteering in the European Union (European Commission, 2010) - http://ec.europa.eu/sport/library/doc/f_studies/volunteering_final_report.pdf.

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 http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/index/aboutus.htm
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 www.adviceguide.org.uk
3. Citizens Advice Bureaux in England and Wales advised 2.1 million clients on 7.1 million problems from April 2009 to March 2010, an 18% increase on the previous year. For full 2009/2010 service statistics see: http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/index/pressoffice/press_index/press_20100517.htm
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.