Since April 2020 volunteers in CABs across Scotland have contributed the equivalent of £17,164,222 in hours.

According to the most recent available figures, over 1,500 people volunteer in CABs across the country.

Volunteer advisers in CABs go through around six months of training. Meanwhile, other voluntary roles in local CABs include administration and social policy work. Of the volunteers whose journey is known, 35 per cent of those leaving the service go on to paid employment or further education.

CAS is releasing the data ahead of Volunteers’ Week which begins on Thursday 1st June and runs until Wednesday 7 June.

CAS chair Rory Mair, CBE, said: “The Citizens Advice network is a people-powered service, with volunteers at the heart of it. This is local people giving something back to their communities and it is worth millions of pounds to the CAB network, but for the people those volunteers help, their contributions are simply priceless.

“Last year the CAB network helped over 174,500 people, unlocking over £132m in the process. One in six people saw a financial gain after seeking advice, the average value of which was over £4,200. That is absolutely life-changing money and in many instances the advice will have been delivered by someone volunteering in the CAB, having gone through training to become and adviser.

“That’s not the only way to volunteer with the Citizens Advice network – people help out in a variety of ways, from advisers to administrators to local campaign and social policy work – there are a range of roles people can do.

“Over a third of our volunteers also go on to further education or paid employment, and that will be an underestimate given how many of our volunteers are retired and simply looking to give something back to their communities. Volunteering for a CAB is a great way for people to develop their skills and experience across a range of areas, while helping their own community.

“Our network simply wouldn’t exist without our wonderful volunteers. CABs are in the heart of our communities and volunteers are the heartbeat of our CABs.”

While many CAB volunteers are retired, many are students, such as Yamuna Kunwar, a volunteer administrator at Musselburgh CAB. Yamuna added: “When I was nine or ten, my parents used to ask me to contact the Bureau.

“We had emigrated from Nepal, and English wasn’t their first language, so if they had a question or needed help filling in a form, I would go to the bureau or call them up. A friend had volunteered at the Musselburgh Bureau and said she really enjoyed it. And because CAB meant a lot to me personally, I wanted to join.

“It can get busy, but I’ve found ways to keep on top of everything. I feel I’m definitely more confident now and can work better under pressure. You go home feeling you’ve actually been able to help someone.”

Law student Sofia Mechtidou is a volunteer adviser at Dundee CAB. She said: “The work can definitely be stressful at times, but I also find it extremely rewarding – especially when you can hear the client’s relief in their voice after you present them with options they weren’t aware they had.

“As an international student, particularly, I know that I can definitely relate to clients that are struggling with immigration issues and problems relating to language barriers. It’s so incredible to see that the sense of community can be so strong that people of all ages want to help each other out.”