Sheila Masters is looking for people who have a spare half day in their week to volunteer at the Stratford Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB).
"We need more volunteers to help us to continue helping people," she says, adding that in the first half of this year the Stratford CAB handled 570 enquiries. "That's a lot of people who got access to free impartial advice thanks to the commitment and dedication of our current small team of volunteers."
Mabeth Bishop has volunteered at the CAB in Stratford since it first opened, over 20 years ago. "Volunteering here is a great way to do some good in the community and make some great friends," says Mabeth, who will finally retire at the end of 2015 for some well-earned rest.
At the Annual General Meeting held in August, the volunteers heard from the management committee regarding future plans for the Stratford office. Currently without a chairperson, the management committee are considering the option of joining with the New Plymouth CAB. "Nothing would change day to day, but it would mean we don't need a chairperson etcetera, which would take some pressure off our volunteers. We hope the removal of some of the extra pressures of the administrative side of things will encourage more people to consider volunteering." Sheila says it would be "business as usual" for the day to day running of the Stratford CAB office, with the Stratford office having "branch status" meaning Stratford will continue to have a CAB to assist all who need their help. "We will still have local volunteers helping local people, and our volunteers will be able to focus on the actual helping part of the role, with less extra demands on their time.
If you think volunteering at the Stratford CAB is something you would consider, pop into the CAB office at 270 Broadway and pick up an information pack. Full training is given, and basic computer skills are required. The CAB is open 10am to 1pm, Monday to Friday.