Advice Week changes lives

The theme of this year's initiative, which begins on September 10, is "Advice changes lives." Thousands of people have their lives changed every year through the advice they receive from their local Citizens' Advice Bureau.

Rother District Citizens' Advice Bureau manager Glenn Jopson said: "Advice really does change lives, not just the people who get help from us, but also for those who work in the service.

"You may give advice to someone in your community which in turn could change their lives, and by volunteering you could gain valuable life skills which could change your life too."

A volunteer said: "I have leaned to type, use a computer and do thorough research. I am also much more confident if I have to make a complaint or deal with a consumer problem in my own life."

Out of the 26,000 people who work in the service nationally, 20,000 (78%) are volunteers. They come from all communities, all ages and all backgrounds and bring valuable skills to the service.

Rother District CAB dealt with 11,500 issues for local people last year within the Rother area. It also helped raise 250,000 in much-needed additional income for local people and dealt with 1.5m of debt.

Anyone wishing to find out more about volunteering is invited to call into or write to Rother District CAB office at 9 Endwell Road, Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex TN40 1EA.