Become a Volunteer
Airdrie Citizens Advice Bureau - A Voluntary Charity
Airdrie Citizens Advice Bureau helps over 3,000 people a year with advice and support that makes a positive impact on people’s lives. By choosing to volunteer with Airdrie CAB, you’ll be giving something truly valuable back to your community and our volunteers are essential in enabling us to deliver the important work we do.
Promoting equality, valuing diversity and working inclusively are integral to our ethos as a charity and we encourage applications from all members of our local community. If you’d like to volunteer with Airdrie CAB or want to find out more, we’d like to hear from you. Please contact the bureau via email or complete our online form or telephone (01236) 754109. Before applying, please take the time to read over the commitment detailed below that we expect of all our volunteers.
History of Airdrie Citizens Advice Bureau
Citizens Advice Bureaux first appeared in 1939 and were part of the United Kingdom government’s response to the public’s need for advice and information during the Second World War. When the war ended, the CAB remained a familiar, independent place where people could turn for help – so they did, and bureaux continued to be part of the daily life of Scotland. There had been a Citizens Advice Bureau in Airdrie during the war, but it had ceased to operate sometime in the 1950’s. On Monday 15th November 1971, a new Citizens Advice Bureau opened. Originally based in the Parochial Board offices in North Bridge Street, it relocated to the former Anderson Street Post Office in 1984 before moving in September 2020 to its current home in Stirling Street.
Volunteer with Airdrie Citizens Advice Bureau
There are a broad range of volunteering roles available within Airdrie CAB, so you can use your knowledge, skills and experience where it matters most. From adviser roles to behind-the-scenes support, we’ll let you choose where you think you’ll make the greatest impact. Role descriptions can be downloaded at the bottom of this page.
You might become a volunteer adviser or administrator, or get involved in social policy, fundraising, IT, communications and social media, and more. All over Scotland, people volunteer in their local Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB), helping in lots of different ways depending on the volunteering opportunities available. Their fantastic contribution is the lifeblood of the Scottish CAB Service. A video produced by Citizens Advice Scotland about volunteering with CAB can be found on Vimeo.
Volunteering is a fantastic way to stay active and involved in the local community. As a new member of our team, we know you’ll feel instantly at home. Let’s not forget the feel-good factor too! Giving people the information and advice, they need to turn their lives around is definitely worth getting out of bed for. As well as making a big difference to people’s lives, you can also learn some valuable skills when volunteering with us. 42% of Citizens Advice Bureau volunteers go on to further education or employment
Why volunteer in a Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)?
- There are lots of reasons why you might want to volunteer in your local bureau:
- It’s a really stimulating place to volunteer, with lots of different things to do
- You can help in a way that suits the time you can spare and the skills you can offer
- You can learn new skills and improve your confidence
- Our comprehensive bureau volunteering programmes mean you’ll get lots of training and support along the way
- Lots of people who’ve been CAB volunteers move on to paid work or further education because of the skills, knowledge and confidence they gain
- You'll get a buzz from making a difference and helping people
- You'll meet new and interesting people
What do we offer you?
We provide extensive training and support for all volunteers that includes:
- Full training through group sessions and self-study.
- You’ll be part of the wider Scottish Citizens Advice network and will have access to ongoing training and development.
- A friendly working environment which values the contribution of volunteers
- Personal satisfaction and self-development
- Travel expenses
- Free tea, coffee and biscuits
What CAB expects of you
Volunteering with Airdrie CAB requires a commitment to working to professional standards to maintain our quality of advice and accreditation and as a volunteer, we will therefore expect that you will:
- Commit to volunteering for at least six hours per week, arrive on time and let us know in advance if you're unable to attend
- Show respect for clients and colleagues
- Bring a non-judgemental attitude to work
- Participate fully in the training that we provide
Volunteer quotes
- ‘Very rewarding and fun, working with a brilliant team of people. Every day is different and there is always something new to learn…’
- ‘It has been incredible in improving my confidence for future employment and I love working with the team and helping others.’
- ‘The CAB is a great place to volunteer to increase skills, confidence to get back into work after a break and to help other people in my town.’
- ‘Volunteering gives a purpose after retirement, and a feeling of satisfaction that you are still useful and able to support your community.'
- ‘It’s rewarding to be able to help others access what they are entitled to and make sure they are treated fairly and correctly in line with policies and legislation.’
The bureau is close to local bus routes, free public parking and an eight-minute walk from Airdrie Train Station.