Can you spare time to help others?

Imagine this: you’re working and on Universal Credit, barely making ends meet. It’s two weeks until payday, and you only have £3 left on your energy meter. On top of this, you’re over £70 in debt with no way of paying it off. What do you do?

The answer is Citizens Advice. After working with a volunteer adviser, you understand your financial options and can access the support you need to pay your bills. 

This is a true story. With the cost of living crisis continuing, the most vulnerable in society are being hit the hardest and Citizens Advice has seen a spike in demand.

Volunteering with Citizens Advice

Most people don’t know that Citizens Advice is a local charity and relies on the kindness of volunteers to provide their essential service. This includes providing free, impartial, and confidential advice to those who need it, on a variety of issues including benefits, debts, housing, and legal cases. These are very real issues that hundreds of people face every day, and Citizens Advice volunteers provide people with the tools they need to find their own way forward.

Volunteering with Citizens Advice is a unique and rewarding experience; as one young volunteer says: “At Citizens Advice, volunteers learn something new every day”. Volunteering offers you a chance to meet new people, gain new skills, and contribute to your community. Free training and continued support ensures volunteers are able to better help the clients, whoever they are, whatever the problem.

To find out more about volunteering at Citizens Advice Teignbridge, head to citizensadviceteignbridge.org.uk, and book your place on one of the taster sessions.  Available online or in person, the taster sessions give an insight into their work and how you can help.  It’s free to join and there’s no commitment. The taster sessions are being held online on Friday, 18th August, and 8th September, and in person at Teignmouth Library on Friday morning, 8th September.

Need advice? Call them on 0808 278 7997 or email them via their website at citizensadviceteignbridge.org.uk.