Volunteering with CAB

I am a volunteer with CAB and I thoroughly enjoy my two days there. I am not an adviser as there is a great deal of e-learning to do for this role and I am not prepared to devote too much time to it at this stage of my life. However, I do admin/clerical and reception work.

I feel I am assisting the advisers in a background role and helping society, albeit in a minor way.

It provides me with a definite focus two days a week as well so it is a two-way thing.

I'm a trustee of a CAB. That means I have less face:face commitments but am still playing a big part in making sure that people who need advice can get it. Trustees have all sorts of skills and life experience, the challenges are interesting but not all-consuming. We meet five times a year and with reading, tasks and meetings that is about 20 hours a month for me, because I am involved in different committees, while others signed up to 5 hours a month. It suits me because I travel quite a bit and can't commit to anything more frequent.

Haven't checked back here for a while. Just as an update, I started my training in November and all going well so far. Everyone has been very helpful and supportive and I'm being eased into it very gently. Glad I took the plunge and would recommend it to anyone who wants a bit of a challenge and to fulfil a useful role.

I have been an Adviser for three years. You start off slowly, there are always people to help you, and you certainly don’t have to remember everything- it’s often a case of knowing where to look. Having people being so thankful for your help is a great reward, hope you decide to go for it! Let us have an update if you can - and good luck.

Did you decide to train for CAB?If not, why not start in the New Year?
I have done it for almost ten years. It is so worthwhile, and so very much needed.

Thank you for the positive encouragement. Would probably do me good to get the brain cells a bit more active.

In some areas they are crying out for volunteers I believe. However in my friend's area they have so many due to trying to get work experience for employment prospects that they are overrun with help! Hope you enjoy it OP.

lolarabbit
Do it, do it, do it! It's brilliant, you get loads of training, there's plenty of information at your fingertips and back up from specialists should you need it. My DS is one of the 'on call' solicitors that our local CAB uses, he's a Wills and Probate specialist.
I'm sure you'll have no trouble learning and retaining the information you'll need, but everything's so easily accessible electronically now that all you really need to know is where to find the relevant info!
I used to do three mornings a week, but am not with them at the moment as I'm looking after our nine month old DGS for three days per week and just don't have the time or energy to do both!
Seriously, do it, I'm sure you won't regret it!

I had cause to use Citizens Advice recently and the gentleman we spoke to although very helpful was not sure of one of the points I ask him , he then went to speak to another colleague to check that he was giving me correct information, what I'm taking so long to say is I think you would have backup if you needed lolarabbit

Thank you for your responses. I think I will go and talk to them and take it from there. I think my family worry I will take on too much and it will end up taking over my life - as teaching undoubtedly did!

You always have books and leaflets around at CAB that you can refer to - I do not think you are required to retain it all in your head - even my GP sits there and looks things up. You just need to know where to look for the right info.

It is certainly a very worthwhile thing to do.

A friend volunteered for cab for a couple of years, training was extensive and she found it interesting though as time went on she felt pushed to do more hours than she really wanted which may have been due to insufficient staff but in the end she left. I had considered it too but decided against.
Certainly is a worthwhile thing to do and good luck if you go with it.