North Wiltshire Citizens Advice Bureau
3rd March 2009
There must be few people who have not heard of the Citizens Advice Bureau.  But what does this local charity actually do?

North Wilts Citizens Advice Bureau has been providing free, independent, confidential and impartial advice to local people on their rights and responsibilities since December 1987. We value diversity, promote equality and challenge discrimination.

Since opening our Chippenham office 21 years ago we have helped people through the negative equity crisis and recession of the 1990s, through the foot and mouth epidemic of 2001 and now we are helping our clients cope with the latest credit crunch.  We have always achieved good outcomes for our clients and in 07/08 we gained £1.5 million.

In 2007/08 we helped 5,572 households, 10% of all North Wiltshire households. 
We were presented with 20,075 problems, of which 64% concerned debt and/or benefits, but hundreds of clients also present problems on a wide range of other issues including housing, employment, legal and discrimination. We provide a holistic service, so clients typically receive advice on more than one issue (averaging 3.6 issues per client) and this advice often spans more than one category, such as advice on debt, benefits and consumer rights.

In order to respond to the increasing demand for our service, we urgently need new volunteers who would like to advise clients.  We provide comprehensive training and support and pay travel and carers’ expenses. We need volunteers who have a willingness to learn and can commit to volunteering 10 hours a week.   Our volunteers tell us they find volunteering at North Wilts CAB rewarding and stimulating. 

Please contact Sandi Sorell, Bureau Manager on 01249 454720 or e-mail ssorell@northwiltscab.org.uk if you would like more information about volunteering at the CAB. Our next courses start in May and September 2009.

If you need advice you can find our opening hours on northwiltscab.org.uk or telephone us on 0845 1203707.