Citizens Advice Herefordshire extends services across the county and seeks volunteers

Citizens Advice Herefordshire is pleased to announce that it is extending its service across the whole county of Herefordshire to meet the extraordinary increase in demand from people for help and advice that has followed the covid pandemic and now the cost of living crisis. Our aim is to make it easier for people to access free, independent, impartial and confidential advice in person, closer to the area in which they live.

We currently provide pre-booked face-to-face appointments in Hereford, Kington, Leominster, Bromyard, Ross–on-Wye in addition to our telephone and email advice service. There are also Drop in advice sessions in our main Hereford office, in Leominster (from 4^th October), Bromyard and at the Hereford Veterans Support Centre.

New services are being launched: from 6^th September, we’ll be at the Hub in Peterchurch, from 25^th September we’ll be in the Kindle Centre and coming on board soon will be advice sessions held at Newton Farm Community Association Centre.

Services are made possible through funding from Ross-on-Wye Town Council, Bromyard and Winslow Town Council, The Hope Centre, Hereford City Council, Herefordshire Council, Talk Communities and the National Lottery Community Fund.

Citizens Advice says it’s helping record numbers of people with energy debts before winter has even begun –  and the size of the debts people face is rising. New research from the charity shows almost eight million people had to borrow money to pay their energy bills in the first half of 2023, a number it forecasts will rise over the coming months. [CA Press release. 24/08/23]

Citizens Advice Herefordshire is actively looking for those interested in volunteering to make a difference and help meet this demand through roles in Generalist Advice, Admin / Reception and Research and Campaigns with a training start date of 19^th October. To become a volunteer with Citizens Advice, you need to be able to commit 5 – 10 hours per week depending on the role, be good at listening, able to work in a team, be open-minded and non-judgmental and have basic computer skills.

Citizens Advice Herefordshire is most grateful to NMITE for their sponsorship of a beautiful training venue.

One of their volunteers, Rich, spoke about his experience:

After retiring, I faced the challenge of filling that void. I wanted to be with people, helping people; finding new interests and experiences. The opportunity to volunteer with Citizens Advice and train to become an Adviser seemed perfect.

For 3 months, I joined a group of other trainees one day a week, learning about advising and main enquiry areas. I started shadowing Advisers as they met with Clients in Hereford and Bromyard and as they responded to phone calls and messages.

I am now starting to make and take calls on my own with close support and supervision from our Trainer. I have no idea what will crop up when I am next in the office. However I do know I will be sat with a great team of skilled and caring Advisers ready to help me and the Clients seeking their wisdom and practical advice.

If you are interested in finding out more about volunteering with Citizens Advice Herefordshire, contact them:

Herefordshire: email recruitment@citaherefordshire.org.uk or call 01432 377583