Joining the CAB?

cepheus

I noticed this call from the CAB for volunteers.

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/news/article-2153235/Citizens-Advice-needs-help-sort-people-finances.html

I have toyed with the idea, but may find it frustrating. The few people I have tried to help didn't seem interested in making the effort.

One friend moans about his finances constantly. However, for some reason which still eludes me, he seems to spend most of his income paying off interest on cards and car loans, yet lives in a massive house paying at least one rate band too high.

I guess the stuff he has bought lying around the house doing nothing could be sold off on Ebay and would reduce the debts significantly. Perhaps being surrounded with junk makes him feel better, and being in a band too high makes his house seem worth more?

However the reaction from other people is what is is to do with me? If people don't want to be helped and people hate do-gooders why bother?

Is he typical? The few other people I know with financial problems have a similar lethargic attitude but perhaps I am being too critical.

jollyme

Of course some people don't want to be helped but many do and if you are able to help just one person isn't that a good thing? ..........

SailorSam

When i was a volunteer at Victim Support there were some people who came to see us that you knew were trying to use the system. They'd want help in claiming for Criminal Injuries Compensation and would make up stories of what had happended to them, sometimes having fights between themselves so they'd have cuts and bruises, even trying for multiple claims. And it did annoy you that they were trying to use us. However for every one like that there ten who really needed help, even if it was only someone to talk to. So overall being a volunteer can give a lot of satisfaction. I'll certainly do it again.

cabbage

The ones that book an appointment or turn up to drop in have one advantage over your friend in that they are seeking help and want to be helped. Of course, not everyone takes the advice given but many do.

CAB will challenge your attitude to those in need.

They are not all ladies who lunch or do gooders and when you help a client and they turn round and say they slept better because they are less worried or they can see light at the end of the tunnel, there's no feeling like it - no amount of salary can match that feeling

Why not find out more and then make a decision?

alwaysonthego_2

I used to volunteer with the CAB for four years but had a baby so had to give up. One of my most memorable case was helping a couple who was heavily in debt. The husband didn't realise he had a warrant out for his arrest for non payment of council tax, they had their electricity cut off and the crux was the husband had found the wife on the couch after she OD on pain killers. I was able to sort out payment plans for the priority debts and referred them on to a debt worker. I also saw a client who did not have buildings ins for her mortgage house, I told her she needed to sort it now offering the phone or internet, but she said she would see to it later.

SailorSam

alwaysonthego wrote: »

I also saw a client who did not have buildings ins for her mortgage house, I told her she needed to sort it now offering the phone or internet, but she said she would see to it later.

No matter how much you try and help some people they prefer to bury their head in the sand.

jollyme

I feel it important to keep in mind that we cannot control others. We can provide information and assistance where requested. We cannot and should not make decisions for others. Do we like it when others attempt to control us?

cepheus

I suppose it's easy to view the advisor and client as entering into a project in which both have a vested stake. Time and effort in the case of the advisor. If either party doesn't try, then the project fails and the other persons input and time is wasted.

cepheus

Citizens Advice say that most people complete the training programme in 6-12 months, not sure if that means full days every day. How many hours in total does it take?

converted

Best thing i ever done was volunteer for CAB, eventually got a paid job with them, and it also made up my mind which career i wanted, the training and experience with the CAB were invaluable in my future training - would have loved to have stayed with them, but paid jobs are few and far between and rely on funding, so no security there. Despite this i would highly recommend volunteering with them. As far as giving advise, you can only give the correct information to someone, how and if they use that information is up to them. I would say go for it.

The_One_Who

cepheus wrote: »

Citizens Advice say that most people complete the training programme in 6-12 months, not sure if that means full days every day. How many hours in total does it take?

The training will consist of theoretical/classroom style lessons as well as shadowing an adviser. The training sessions will probably take place once a week, and you could do the practical training alongside those. It really depends on the bureau though and their own systems.