Volunteers needed to help CAB help others

Monday 03 April 2023

Citizen's Advice Guernsey needs more volunteers to maintain its services, with thousands of people needing specialist or general advice from the charity every year.

Nearly 4,000 people contacted the service last year, including around 2,500 new users.

CAB's Interim Manager, Annie Ashmead is expecting the demands on its services to continue to grow, with the cost-of-living crisis affecting many people.

“It is thanks to the dedicated team of volunteer advisers, some of whom have been with us for many years, that we are able to help so many people," she said.

"Inevitably after many years of service some of our volunteers have now retired. So, to maintain our current level of service we really need to recruit more volunteers to join the generalist advising team."

Mrs Ashmead said that volunteers can have experience in a specialist subject or can train as general advisors. 

“What is also important to consider is that the people who come to us may only represent the tip of the iceberg in terms of how many people are experiencing the same or similar problems. In effect our service provides a snapshot of what is happening in the Bailiwick and what the issues are that concern islanders.

"We would welcome the opportunity to expand our services to help more people, but for that we need more resources, especially more people who have the time to train and become generalist advisers.”

To find out more about volunteering at Citizens Advice email volunteer@citizensadvice.org.gg or call 242734.