Does Anyone Volunteer for their Local CAB?

chocsessential

Hi Lizzie

I know they really really need people in my local CAB. Why don't you call a couple of local ones and explain that you would like to start volunteering in the future? They might ask you to call in for an informal chat, and you can get an idea of the size of the place and what kinds of problems they deal with. Good luck with your law degree too.

lizzielondon

chocsessential wrote: »

Hi Lizzie

I know they really really need people in my local CAB. Why don't you call a couple of local ones and explain that you would like to start volunteering in the future? They might ask you to call in for an informal chat, and you can get an idea of the size of the place and what kinds of problems they deal with. Good luck with your law degree too.

thanks, just about to finish the economics one, starting to think i'm barmy wanting to do two more years at school...

Savvy_Sue

Always worth contacting organisations you might want to volunteer with in good time, their recruitment procedures may be quite lengthy, especially if they need a CRB check from you, want to take up references, and give you some training before you start. We ask people to come to an evening session where we explain what we do, why we do it that way, and what's involved. We only run them twice a year, so if you just miss one, that's it for 6 months! And then another 3 to get through the induction process and onto our rotas.

tiff

Do you work for the CAB Sue, or another charity?

Savvy_Sue

tiff wrote: »

Do you work for the CAB Sue, or another charity?

Another charity. It's a general point I'm making, particularly for lizzie wondering whether to enquire now or when she's finished her exams!

However desperate an organisation is for volunteers, it's rare to be able to walk in and start 'work' immediately (whatever you see on Secret Millionaire! )

For example, we often get threads in the run up to Christmas saying "I want to volunteer over Christmas, where can I go?" And the answer is often "nowhere at such short notice!" Our big local 'service' for homeless people over Christmas recruits throughout the year and runs training courses in the autumn. You can't just turn up!

tiff

I was just interested to know if you worked for CAB as I have applied to work as a volunteer in the Bristol one.

I suppose most people dont think about the training/paperwork/crb checks required before you can start volunteering. Fingers crossed that they are recruiting soon as I am itching to start.

lizzielondon

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

However desperate an organisation is for volunteers, it's rare to be able to walk in and start 'work' immediately (whatever you see on Secret Millionaire! )

i watched one the other night, haven't seen any in a while, i don't know if I believe that the people don't know the cameras are for secret millionaire... the programme's been going for ages lol

thanks sue, i'll consider applying now, was just concerned about the time away from revision for interviews etc

lizzielondon

also this might be a silly question but i thought CRB checks were only for people who would come into contact with/be alone with children?

obv don't have a problem with having one just hadn't thought about it

Savvy_Sue

CRB checks are needed for those working with children, or with vulnerable adults, which some CAB clients would be. I don't know for certain that you'd have to have a CRB to volunteer with CAB, but it wouldn't surprise me. Also in some positions of trust, but I know far less about that side of things.

If you've 'only' got a year to offer (not that I'm knocking it!) you definitely need to start the process before you actually want to start volunteering. I don't know how long it takes to make someone 'useful' within CAB, but we get quite a few people volunteering to gain experience, and by the time they've worked through 'the system', someone who'd hoped to get a year's experience might find they only had 6 months left. And it's a bit frustrating for us too!

alwaysonthego_2

You do need to a CRB to volunteer with the CAB as you will come in contact with vunerable adults. It takes on average 6 months to train up to become an adviser. It is very rewarding work but as Sue says it can be frustrating supporting trainees and then they leave.