Citizens Advice in volunteer drive after 74 per cent increase in cases (From Enfield Independent)

Enfield Citizens Advice Bureau in volunteer drive after 74 per cent increase in cases

4:26pm Thursday 31st May 2012 in News By David Hardiman, Reporter

Volunteers are needed at Enfield Citizens Advice Bureau as demand has nearly doubled during the recession, its chief executive has warned.

Sonia Kotecha, who has led the free advice service in Nags Head Road for three years, said it had helped 8,000 people during the last year – an increase of 74 per cent – but needed to add to the 70 volunteers who currently give up their time to investigate cases.

The charity is holding a volunteer week between June 1-8 to encourage people to give up at least two days a week to go through a training process and help out, with advisers and assessors needed.

Volunteer development manager Marcia Cabey said: “They will be dealing with clients face-to-face or on the telephone, helping to find the best way to resolve the issues they have.”

“If you feel you have the aptitude to be trained as a volunteer in a busy, rewarding but demanding environment to help your local community, please register your interest by telephoning or by email.”

Ms Kotecha, who took on the role of chief executive after four years as a solicitor and trained lawyers in India, also warned of a scam in the borough of cold callers pretending to be from the bureau and offering to set up debt management plans and loans.

She said: “Citizens Advice never ever calls people out of the blue. This is a despicable scam that trades on public trust in our totally free and independent service.

“These conmen ask for personal information and bank details, and people should never give out this kind of information and always report the call to the bureau.”

To find out more about becoming a volunteer, call the bureau on 020 8375 4178 or email volunteer.development@enfieldcab.org.uk