Does Anyone Volunteer for their Local CAB?

A question about : Does Anyone Volunteer for their Local CAB?

Hi, just as the question suggests really. An opportunity has come up for me to do this but I wondered if people normally worked in their nearest CAB or preferred to work in a different one so their neighbours didn't know about it?

It sounds very cloak and dagger but it isn't. I just wandered how most people did their volunteering and if any issues arose from being recognised.

Best answers:

• Hiya
  I used to volunteer in my local CAB but am now a paid member of staff. If you recognise a name or a face your supervisor will always assign another volunteer to that person as it can be awkward for both of you.
  I sometimes see people I know in town but I am not allowed to say Hi as it is a breach of confidentiality. Generally speaking if they say hi to you, you are allowed to say hi back but thats it. Clients have returned for another appointment and have queried my response to them and when I explain the reasons they are ok with it.
  Our local CAB have 3 offices so if yours is the same you could chose one not so close but to be honest its not been an issue for me in the five years I have been advising.
  The other side of the coin is that if people know where you volunteer they are always trying to get advice from you at the pub etc rather than book an appointment! I usually duck out of it saying I don't have the advice with me and would need to look it up on the advice system.
  As for volunteering, its hard work but the rewards are immense. Even as a paid member of staff with extra responsibility I can't believe how lucky I am to do a job that makes such a vast difference to people's lives. The amount of times I've been told that "at last I will sleep better tonight" or see someone severely depressed and in debt start taking their first steps to recovery and thinking about working again is great.
• What a very helpful response, thank you. The role would involve me advising people after I have taken training. I imagine these kinds of issues would be covered in the training course anyway now I think about it. That's interesting what you say about saying hi to people you recognise in the street. I live in a strange area where people are quite unfriendly so maybe that won't be a problem, ha ha.
• Hi
  Yeah it may not be an issue where you live ha ha. In my town everyone is really friendly.
  I had someone stop me at the Leisure Centre and she said hi and of course I said hi back and she wanted to discuss the outcome of her enquiry. I had to admit to her that I couldn't remember the details but she said "i just wanted to say thanks and its all sorted out" I didn't break confidentiality but it could have been awkward.
  Today I found out that a benefit claim I did 8 weeks ago resulted in a gain of just over Ј100 per week for a client. This will make a huge difference to her life. Its made my day!
  I've never once regretted volunteering for the cab. They do ask alot of their volunteers and you must commit to 6 hours a week in our bureau but its very sociable, rewarding, educational and you get far more back. Go for it!
• It sounds like you've done really well in your role. This is what the manager said to me too about the time commitment, that I would have to come in two days a week. Is that what you did? I can kind of do that but I can't take on a big time commitment because of being self employed and needing to earn money the rest of the time.
  Well done for making such a difference to your clients' lives
• Hi
  Yes, I had to come in over two days as the bureau is only open 10 - 2pm so that would be only 4 hours but they can be flexible as your time on courses and reading your training packs can make up the six hours. It depends on the bureau really as most are so grateful for volunteers that they will let you do one day even if it means less than six hours but all are different.
  I did my training and held down a part time job - others hold down full time jobs and still manage it so it can be done. The training itself is good and is accredited so can help towards other qualifications away from the CAB.
  I ended up giving up my job as my dad decided to move to my sisters for her to care for him and I organised that for him and helped him sell his home. At the same time my daughter needed a major operation so I was lucky that I could just about afford to give up work to look after them both.
  I was then offered a 6 hour paid post which has gradually grown to an 18 hour post. There's enough work if I wanted to go full time but I don't as I like my hobbies and having some free time. The wages are ok, not the best but better than I was earning in a clerical role.
  If I won the lottery, I would still work for the CAB but for free - that's how happy I am. I'm not saying that its not hard and that it doesn't get you down occasionally but all the negatives are made up for when you get a result for your clients. Its not even about the thanks you get from clients its just knowing you made a difference I suppose.
  Will have to remember that when I am having a bad day and think back to carefree days working as an admin assistant!
• Cabbage, or anyone else who knows - when you were a volunteer did you specialise in one area of helping people, say debt or housing problems, or did you have clients with issues across the board?
• If you are a generalist advisor you will advise on everything. If your Bureau has specialists in debt, housing, etc then those clients will be referred directly to them.
  I understand all Bureaux are now introducing triage systems, so you may well be put on those duties.
• Hiya
  Yeah I trained as a generalist adviser. Anyone needing specialist advice would be referred to our in house specialist or to another agency.
  Although I am still a generalist I now do debt work and more detailed case work.
  Alot of bureau's do have a triage system called gateway. All clients are offered an initial 10 min face to face interview to either refer to a specialist or signpost to another organisation.
  We don't do that at our bureau but we operate a gateway system for telephone calls to the bureau. All appointments are booked through the gateway telephone system. Clients either get an appointment or if its easier for them, telephone advice. We also offer a drop in service.
  Been doing this for just over a year and its working very well. Those who need or want an appointment, get one and those who don't or have a quick query are helped over the phone. Before we introduced it, we were forever getting booked up too far in advance and had a lot of no shows but now because everyone accesses the service the same way, we have appointments sometimes next day or if not within a few days.
• I have volunteered for the CAB for the past three years and love it. My CAB does not stipulate any set amount of hours per week and are really flexible. We run a gateway sytem where all our clients have to ring us and we book appointments or signpost them to other agencies depending on their gateway interview. Although the gateway is good, we still find we are booked up for a coupkle of weeks ahead.
• But say you trained as a money advisor and were the only person with that particular training. If you recognised someone and did not feel comfortable advising them would the manager still be able to assign another advisor to help them, or would you have to do it because you are the only one with that expertise?
• Hi
  In our bureau it wouldn't happen as there is a team of money advisers but I suppose it could happen if you only had one specialist. If you were a volunteer I think you could choose not to seem them but as a paid member of staff, unless the client had a problem seeing me, then I would see them. If you were the only specialist you would consult with your supervisor about referring them to another bureau or another charity if you were the only volunteer specialist.
  In our bureau you have to go through the generalist adviser training before doing specialist training because advising a debt client could also mean maximising his/her income through benefits or advising on employment law etc etc.
  Does that answer your query?
• Hi Cabbage
  That does answer it, many thanks. The manager has told me that I can volunteer to be a generalist or a money advisor, and I can choose which to do.
• Hi Chocsessential
  If it was me and with the benefit of hindsight I would train again as a generalist. There's always the chance to specialise later.
  I went for a job as a trainee money adviser after my generalist training but didn't get it. I found out they thought I was best suited to advise on a variety of things and see a variety of clients but I thought this was flannel to let me down lightly. It turned out they were right and when I compare roles, I prefer the one I took as a volunteer and now as a paid worker. My knowledge in all subjects is building and I am challenged every day.
  If you were to go straight into to money advice you would need to do your generalist training to do other things in the bureau.
  This is just my take on things and ultimately its your decision chocs.
• HI
  There must be some job descriptions knocking about somewhere for the paid staff so it shouldn't be too much to ask them to get them.
  Best of luck
• HI Cabbage
  I have the application form in front of me and the manager said to fill it in and then go back and have another chat about the roles. I am coming round to the idea of being a generalist advisor but I need more details before I commit to anything. I would hate for them to invest their time and money in training only for me to wish I'd taken the other role, if you see what I mean.
• I would advise that applying to be a CAB voluntary worker is much the same as applying for a paid job elsewhere - you may not be thought suitable for the job you have applied for, so do bear that in mind. Best to complete the form and then talk over all your queries at your interview. But you would have to do your general advisory training anyway before going into a more specialised role.
  I always remember being told "its the same commitment as a paid job but you just dont get any money" .
  Re your query about working at your local office. It's a difficult one. I did have moments when I felt embarrassed, more so for the person coming for advice than for myself, if I recognised them. However, on the plus side, having a local knowledge of the people and places was often a great benefit which outweighed the occasional uneasiness.
• Hi Hethmar
  I agree with you totally; I may not be suitable for one reason or another. I have done charity work before in very different organisations. Like you say it is a proper job, and that is why I want to be very careful about making the right decision so I don't mess them about. The funny thing is I went in enquiring about a totally different role, and when I explained my previous volunteer experience the manager felt I might like to apply for an advisor role. I am such a worry wart!
• Dont worry at all, you sound ideal and Ive no doubt you will be fine . If you feel you dont, presently, have the time needed for the training re advising, then it may be an admin job is available in the meantime?