The Kirklees Citizens Advice and Law Centre column with Nick Whittingham

Volunteers help in lots of ways in our Contact Centres including answering our Telephone Advice Line, filling in forms with clients and helping people to find the information they need to deal with their problem.

KCALC is also governed by volunteers who make up the board of trustees and use their skills and experience to run the organisation.

Volunteers told us why they enjoy working with us.

l ‘To help people with their problems as I care about others and I enjoy the social aspect of working with a great team and it keeps my brain active’

l ‘It gives me a greater understanding about what is happening to the local community and I enjoy the different issues that are raised’

l ‘I get a buzz out of helping people. The face to face contact is very helpful and important to the clients.

‘They come to us for free help and sometimes we are the last set of people to show help and compassion. Every week is different, thus making the job enjoyable, beneficial and rewarding to all’

We have more than 60 volunteers working with KCALC each week but we still have room for more, especially in North Kirklees.

Volunteers come from all sorts of backgrounds, are aged from 18 to over 80, and we provide training so you don’t need any qualifications to apply.

KCALC’s Operations Manager Lesley Kaye said: “Our volunteers are great.

“They bring so much to the organisation and are part of a service that helps over 46,000 people each year in this area.

“We couldn’t do it without them.”

To find out more look at our website www.kcalc.org.uk where you can also apply online, or drop into one of our contact centres to discuss volunteering.

If you enjoy helping people and have at least one day per week to offer then you too might find this a rewarding way to help others, and you might be drinking tea with us at next year’s celebration.