You can learn new skills and help others by training with the Citizens Advice Bureau

Welfare system reforms - and surge in demand for advice - have sparked Stirling District Citizens Advice Bureau to appeal for volunteers to train as advisers.

Adviser training starts on Friday October 20 from 9.30am-2.30pm.

As Stirling CAB is Sainsbury’s local charity of the year, the classes will be held in the community room at its Drip Road store, every Friday for 13 weeks. In addition to the classes, advisers should be available to do on the job shadowing for a few hours through the week.

The advice service is open for this from 10am-3pm Monday to Thursday, and volunteer expenses are paid.

Bureau Manager Craig Anderson said:“The impact of the welfare reforms is adding to the need for more frontline advisers.

“Everyone knows their local CAB offers free, independent and confidential advice on a wide range of subjects, but not everybody realises that 95 per cent of CAB advisers are, in fact, trained volunteers – people giving up just a few hours of their time each week to help their community.”

Anyone can volunteer and formal qualifications or a vast amount of knowledge are not required as training will be provided.

Craig added:“Because we always want our staff to reflect the community they serve, we hope people of all ages and backgrounds will be interested in finding out more about volunteering with their local CAB. It’s interesting, it’s worthwhile, it’s fun – it can offer you such a lot of things.

“Students and young people might have a growing interest in their own sense of citizenship and welcome the chance to gain experience for a CV and work skills; older people and the retired might want to use some of the skills they have acquired in working life to help their community while meeting and socialising with new people; parents might want to volunteer during school hours; and unemployed people might see volunteering as a way to acquire new skills, experience and an up-to-date employer reference.

“Volunteering won’t affect benefit as long as they’re still available for paid work. – those on Employment and Support Allowance or DLA /PIP can also volunteer.”

People are also needed to act as CAB Board members, help with IT, social policy, fundraising and general administrative work.

Contact Peter Whitelaw or Diane Adens on 01786 451225 or email Peter.Whitelaw@StirlingCAB. casonline.org.uk or Diane.Adens@ StirlingCAB.casonline.org.uk pop into CAB, 3 Cameronian

Street, Stirling, FK8 2DX, between 10am-3pm.