“I want to help the local community”

Volunteering can be one of the most rewarding ways to give back to the community, and Citizens Advice relies on the dedication of local people to provide vital support to those in need. We spoke with David Dowling, a volunteer at Welwyn Hatfield Citizens Advice, about what motivated him to get involved, what his role looks like day to day, and the difference it makes both to clients and to him personally. What motivated you to volunteer with Citizens Advice, and what drew you to this kind of role? “I retired in 2023 after working for 35 years in the Corporate sector and I wanted a volunteer role that would be flexible in terms of the hours worked, completely different from what I had done before and something in the charitable sector that would make a real difference to people in need. I had a discussion with the CEO of Welwyn Hatfield Citizens Advice and I was attracted by the Generalist Adviser roles that was described. We were trained in a small group in many different areas including how to help clients with debts, employment issues, housing, benefits, immigration, consumer issues and others. I also learnt additional personal skills that built on what I had gained in the corporate sector.” What does a typical day as a volunteer look like, and what kind of support do you provide for people who come to you? “It may be a cliche but no two days are the same. Whilst there are opportunities for volunteers to speak to clients by phone, my preference is to see clients face to face in the office which is catered for and encouraged. The clients I see are often in desperate situations, for example sometimes they are homeless or about to be evicted, sometimes they have debts which they need help with to manage, other times they are not getting the benefits they are due and some are subject to domestic abuse or have alcohol or gambling addictions. We provide practical advice to help the clients manage these situations and as many of our clients have long-term disabilities or critical health conditions, we will often take a hands on approach to action the advice we give, for example I had a client last week who was a month away from being evicted and after getting her approval to act on her behalf, I successfully applied for Universal Credit, Housing Benefit and Council Tax support for her. I then spoke to the Housing Department and with their help, we spoke to the managing agent of her privately rented house and negotiated with them and the owner to offer her a new lease on the house. She was able to remain in her home and get her finances on a sustainable basis.” How do you feel your volunteering makes a difference, to the people you help and to you personally? “I get so much personal satisfaction from helping local people and I have learnt so much both through the training provided and working with our clients. I enjoy the role so much that I recently extended my hours and role to also work with another volunteer on Research and Campaigns where we take issues that are impacting many clients and deal with the issues holistically. An example of this is that we see so many clients who are not claiming the benefits that they are entitled to. We are now launching a campaign across Welwyn Hatfield to talk directly to different community groups about the different benefits available, eligibility rules and the process for claiming them. We hope this will make a real difference to a large number of people in the borough. The Clients we work with are often so grateful for the support they get from Citizens Advice. They really appreciate how we help them navigate desperate situations and get their lives back to a more peaceful and sustainable basis.” Making an Impact David Dowling’s experience highlights the real impact that Citizens Advice can have on people’s lives from preventing evictions to helping clients access the support they’re entitled to. It also shows how volunteering can be transformative for the volunteers themselves, offering new skills, purpose, and the chance to make a lasting difference in the local community. 👉 To find volunteering opportunities with Citizens Advice Welwyn Hatfield, click here .

Looking to give back to your community but not sure where to start? The upcoming Virtual Volunteer Fair is the perfect chance to explore a wide range of opportunities across Hertfordshire and find a role that suits your skills, interests, and availability. One volunteer who found his path through GoVolHerts is Peter Hopkins, now Chair of Trustees at Young Carers Crew . “In 2022, I wanted to get back into volunteering to give something back to the community, but wasn’t sure where to start. A contact recommended GoVolHerts, a platform connecting people in Hertfordshire with meaningful volunteer roles. So off I went! In searching the site, I came across a role as a Trustee for Young Carers Crew – a charity supporting young people who care for family members with illness or disability. The description explained that trustees help guide the charity’s strategy, ensure good governance, and support its fundraising efforts. With many years business experience in senior roles, I felt that a trustee role was one where I could make a real difference.” Peter applied through GoVolHerts and was soon welcomed onto the board of trustees. “It took a few meetings to get to know everyone and to start making a contribution. Initially I took on responsibility for fundraising strategy, and had a number of successes with local government and foundation grants. I have since moved on to take the role of Treasurer, with the added responsibilities of Charity Commission reporting and dealing with HMRC queries – and this has certainly enabled me to develop new skills! I have recently taken on the additional role of Chair of Trustees, and as I reflect on the last three years, I certainly feel that I’ve been able to make a difference to the governance of the charity, ensuring we are in a good place financially to continue to support young carers in our area.” The experience has been rewarding not just for Peter but also for the charity. “As a charity, we continue to use GoVolHerts to recruit new trustees and volunteers, and to bring new sets of skills to the group! I would certainly recommend the site to any charity looking to engage volunteers with their purpose, and thanks to all the team for their continued support!” Peter’s story is just one example of how volunteering can open doors, build new skills, and make a real difference. If you’re curious about how you could get involved, the Virtual Volunteer Fair is a fantastic place to start. Peter Hopkins, Chair of Trustees, Young Carers Crew

In 2024 Mark was considering what activity he could do to have fun, keep busy, contribute to his community and use his skills. He saw on Facebook that GoVolHerts was hosting a volunteer fair in Hitchin town centre, so he went along to meet charities and find out what sort of opportunities they might have to get involved. On the day, he got talking to the people at the Herts Fire & Rescue Service stand. Having recently retired from a demanding role as a marine engineer who used to have responsibility for fire-fighting on board oil tankers and gas carriers, their volunteering roles seemed like a great fit and an interesting opportunity to use his skills and experience for the benefit of the community. He started to volunteer with the service shortly afterwards as part of a team of volunteers. He is involved in a variety of different activities, including helping at public education events across the county, fitting smoke detectors and interviewing for the King's Trust. GoVolHerts recently met him supporting a busy Older Persons Learning & Safety event in Stevenage, organised by volunteers from Herts Fire & Rescue. Mark really enjoys getting out and about and the variety of his role, in which he is typically active 2-3 days a month. GoVolHerts was delighted to hear about Mark's experiences and to know that we played our part in helping him find the right role. We celebrate all the wonderful volunteers at Herts Fire & Rescue service, who are keeping our communities safe and supported. Click here to see their current volunteering roles and find out if it's the right fit for you too. If this isn't the right role for you, don't hesitate to search for other roles or to attend our forthcoming Hertfordshire Volunteer Fair on Friday 6th June in Hitchin! Learn more here.