I started volunteering at Citizens Advice because I wanted to give something back using the skills developed during my working life in the banking sector.
I am a Generalist Adviser who has volunteered once a week for the last five years. I tend to advise clients on financial issues (allowing me to put my skills/experience gained from my working life into practice to support clients), such as advising through early-stage debt work.
I enjoy working on in-depth cases enabling me to build rapport with clients and get my teeth into more complicated issues. Current issues include benefit overpayments that have accrued over a few years.
The work is intellectually and emotionally challenging, but I am grateful for the opportunity to help the most vulnerable in our society. It is sobering to support people with vastly different life experiences. Volunteering has helped me grow as a person. I am much more aware of, and sympathetic to social issues.
