AN advice charity has celebrated the hard work of its volunteers across the district by serving afternoon tea, sending e-cards and saying a vocal “thank you” for all their hard work helping the public with nearly 14,000 issues over the last year.

It is estimated that volunteers donate up to £515,000 of unpaid time to Citizens Advice East Hampshire per year.

Based in Alton, Bordon and Petersfield, Citizens Advice volunteers support people in a variety of ways, including face-to-face, over the phone, and online through e-mail and webchat as East Hampshire residents are helped with debt issues, improving people’s financial skills, standing up for people’s rights at work if they believe they have been bullied or unfairly dismissed, and helping people claim entitlements such sick pay and maternity pay.

Volunteers also give their time to help support the work, in areas such as IT, fundraising and administration.

Jon Stuart, chief executive of Citizens Advice East Hampshire, used national volunteers week, which ended on Sunday, to thank the 120 volunteers who have given their time at the three district offices over the last 12 months. Paid staff served afternoon tea and cakes to the volunteers and thank you cards were sent to every volunteer who has donated their time to help the public.

Mr Stuart said: “Citizens Advice volunteers change lives. It is thanks to the generosity of our volunteers that Citizens Advice in Alton, Bordon and Petersfield is able to help people take control of their finances, claim entitlements like sick pay and protect their rights at work. We owe them a giant thank you for the time they give.”

Bob, a Bordon volunteer, has been with Citizens Advice for six years since he retired from a distinguished career in the RAF. He decided to join his local Citizens Advice after working closely with the organisation in his last years in the forces.

“I decided when I could afford the time I would join at the sharp end,” said Bob.

Like many volunteers, he said: “I get satisfaction from knowing I am useful to people who need help and move them forward with their lives.”

Bob also commented on the good training, support and encouragement to grow that all Citizens Advice volunteers get in East Hampshire.

Nationally, 21,000 volunteers gave up their time across the Citizens Advice network last year. The national charity estimates its volunteers donate morer than £100m of time each year across England and Wales. By working out how much it would cost for paid employees to do their work Citizens Advice is able to estimate the value of hours donated by volunteers.

Heading up the organisation in East Hampshire is newly-appointed chairman Sir Charles Cockburn, who has replaced Phil Ladds, who has stepped down after six years in the post.

Sir Charles lives near Alton and comes with a wealth of experience in the charity sector and in policy making. He is a trustee for the Stroke Association and previously managed a merger of a smaller charity into the Stroke Association, successfully pooling resources and extending the specialist speech service to the public. His professional career has been as a political lobbyist, for the last 20 years with the company he started, Portcullis Public Affairs Ltd. He is currently its’ chairman.

Sir Charles has always had an interest in law and policy making. Citizens Advice nationally has played important roles in major campaigns and this is one of the reasons he is keen to support the East Hampshire branch.

He said: “I have a passion to use law and policy to create a level playing field for all.”

One of the cornerstones of Citizens Advice is to enable and empower individuals and Sir Charles acknowledges that “it is a brave step to sometimes seek help”.

The future for all charities will be a challenging one and Citizens Advice, like many others, will face problems with funding.

He believes that “the advice sector faces balkanisation and this needs to be addressed in radical terms”.

Citizens Advice East Hampshire has already started the process of redesigning its services to residents both in rural and town environments with the introduction of webchat, home visiting and a telephone advice line.

Sir Charles is grateful for the continued commitment and funding by East Hampshire District Council. He said: “It is a clear indication of the district council’s understanding of our role in the local community.”

In paying tribute to the volunteers, he said: “We rely heavily on our dedicated team of volunteers, without them we could not offer the service we do. We are always looking for volunteers to continue the service and are keen to welcome prospective Trustees with particular skills in treasury, legal, IT and change management. It is a great opportunity to give back to society.”

Citizens Advice East Hampshire is in the process of recruiting new volunteers to start in September. To volunteer, email Becky Wright at admin.training@ caeasthants.org.uk or visit citizensadvice.org.uk