Meet the team - Alan and Georgina, Volunteers

*PLEASE BE AWARE THIS IS AN OLDER POST AND THERE MAY BE A MORE UP TO DATE POST, OR UPDATED INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/ *

Who are you and what is your volunteer role at CAWB?

Alan: “My name is Alan and I’m a retired Civil Servant now volunteering here at Citizens Advice Wigan Borough. I retired back in August 2010 and after a couple months I decided to apply for a volunteer position. Initially I did one day in the office and one day of training before graduating as a generalist adviser after a nine month course. After this, I did one and a half days a week doing interviews and trying to help people solve their problems at the old Henrietta office. The training was really enjoyable and there was a very good support mechanism, with 3 to 4 supervisors available to learn from.”

Georgina: “My name’s Georgina and I’m a 3rd-year student at The University of Manchester studying Maths and Philosophy. I’m a comms volunteer with Citizens Advice Wigan Borough which mainly involves doing social media, things like scheduling Twitter and Facebook posts. The posts I help schedule include a range of information and advice for the general public and using social media is a great way to reach a wider range of people. I work once a week for 1 hour which fits into my schedule perfectly and I work remotely from home which is very convenient for me.”

How did you come across Citizens Advice and why did you decide to volunteer?

Alan: “I actually came across the volunteering opportunity because I had used the service before to help my son with an employment issue that resulted in an unfair dismissal pay off two days before going to tribunal. I was really grateful for the help given and that’s where my interest was sparked in volunteering for Citizens Advice as I thought I could indeed help somehow.”

Georgina: “I found out about this volunteer opportunity through my university which sent out an email about it, but I already knew about this organisation as my mum is a volunteer in a different Citizens Advice. I decided to volunteer as I think the work they do is very important for so many people. Not only is the work very worthwhile, but the hours are very flexible and accommodate my busy schedule. For me, it’s a great opportunity and looks great on my CV for future employment as I now have experience working in social media and communications.”

What aspects of volunteering  do you enjoy the most?

Alan: “Recently due to COVID, I have not been able to volunteer as much due to not being able to go into the office. But, I still continue to enjoy volunteering when I can because I hope I can still help. I like being a part of the team and I like working alongside the others in the office. Even though I’ve now retired from being a Civil Servant, I enjoy still being in the game - my fellow retired Civil Servants think I’m strange!”

Georgina: “I love volunteering at Citizens Advice Wigan Borough as it’s very welcoming and inclusive. All the other staff and volunteers are very friendly and helpful; if I ever need help I know everyone will be willing to help.”

What would you say to someone who is thinking about volunteering?

Georgina: “Volunteering is an amazing experience and this a great place to volunteer. Not only will you be part of an organisation that helps so many people but the work is flexible, the staff are really friendly and it will look great on your CV.”