Award-winning volunteering at the Drumchapel Citizens Advice Bureau
Posted on Tue 16 August 2011
Case Study: Drumchapel Citizens Advice Bureau Awarded £2,000
The Citizens Advice Bureau, a project funded by the Fair Share Trust in Drumchapel, recognizes the empowering role of community volunteering. Its distinctive recruitment and support strategy focuses on volunteers who might be normally overlooked, for instance those with disabilities, affected by mental health problems or long-term unemployed. This approach, combined with their effective work supporting people in one of the city’s most deprived communities, saw the Bureau win two awards during this period: the Evening Times Community Champions Award and the Social Economy Organisation of the Year for West Glasgow.
One such example is of Ms. Davies*, who became interested in volunteering at the Bureau after attending a recruitment fair. She was in a wheelchair and needed special transportation arrangements. But, once she completed the training and started taking clients on her own, Ms. Davies’ perspective in life changed.
She started going to the Bureau without her wheelchair, using a crutch for support. She affirms that by volunteering there, her previous fear of being constantly dependent on the wheelchair has vanished. While there are still some bad days, by helping others Ms. Davies has re-evaluated her own problems and is coping with her pain better. She says her communication skills are improving and she is growing in confidence and knowledge. She feels she is being treated as an equal and is more comfortable to interact with others at the Bureau.
Ms. Davies’ story illustrates the success of the Citizens Advice Bureau in Drumchapel in supporting under-represented sectors of the community through volunteering. The opportunity to contribute to community improvement goes beyond the service provided to the Bureau’s clients and leads to significant benefits in the lives of the volunteers.
* Name has been changed.
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