On Wednesday 16th July 2025, Citizens Advice Bury & Bolton (CABB) held a celebration event to highlight the incredible work of its volunteers, in particular, their longest standing volunteers Keith & Doug, who have each volunteered with Citizens Advice for an astounding 30 years each. In attendance were the volunteer team, CABB staff and trustees, and partners from Bury VCFA and Bolton CVS.
In the last year, Citizens Advice Bury & Bolton has helped 16,745 people with 55,671 problems, including debt advice, housing, welfare benefits and energy issues. This is a 5% increase on the previous 12 months. It can only do this work thanks to its team of staff and 23 trained volunteers.
Collectively, the volunteer team have volunteered for a total of 320 years and provided over 6500 hours of advice and support to local communities annually.
Citizens Advice Bury & Bolton volunteers come from all walks of life and choose to volunteer for a variety of reasons. They include students; people getting back into work after career breaks; people with part-time jobs; carers; and people who’ve retired. Volunteers are often looking to gain valuable experience or to use their existing skills in new ways. Many want to have an impact in their community and find a sense of purpose in helping others.
Doug, who has volunteered for 30 years said “I have been a volunteer for 30 years now and it maintains my brain activity, which in turn has impacted on my day to day living by constantly learning new information”.
Keith, who has also volunteered for 30 years said: “Having used the services of CAB previously, I decided to volunteer following my retirement as it was considered a name I could trust. I am now in my 30th year as a volunteer and I have made many new friends, met new people and developed new skills. I volunteer hoping to make a difference in my community/town. My reward is the satisfaction of helping others and hopefully making a positive impact on their lives”.
Jamie Walker, Chair & Gary Malcomson, CEO at Citizens Advice Citizens Advice said:
“We’re forever grateful to our wonderful team of volunteers for the time, dedication and expertise they provide, supporting our local communities and beyond.
Their role is vital, and without our volunteers we would not be able to provide the level of services we do. Whether they are helping individuals navigate complex systems, offering guidance during challenging times, or simply providing reassurance, their work changes lives every day.
Thank you to Keith, Doug and our team of volunteers for their unwavering commitment and for being a part of something truly impactful. We couldn’t do this without them”.
Cllr David Chadwick, Mayor of Bolton also shared words of thanks
“As Mayor of Bolton, I wanted to take the opportunity to celebrate the incredible work of the Citizens Advice Bury and Bolton volunteer team.
Your commitment to helping others, often during their most difficult moments, is truly inspiring. Volunteers are the heart of your service – giving your time, knowledge and compassion day in, day out to support local people.
I want to give special thanks and congratulations to two exceptional individuals – Keith and Doug – Thirty years of service… that’s more than 10,000 hours each of helping people find a way forward. That’s thousands of local residents supported – with advice, with reassurance, with practical help.
But it’s not just the advice you’ve given – it’s the way you’ve supported others along the way. You’ve mentored newer volunteers, adapted to new ways of working, and helped shape a service that continues to make such a difference to our communities.
On behalf of the people of Bolton – thank you. Thank you, Keith and Doug, for everything you’ve done, and thank you to all the amazing volunteers at CABB. We are truly fortunate to have you”.
Research by national Citizens Advice found that 9 in 10 volunteers say that volunteering at Citizens Advice services across England and Wales have given them a sense of purpose while 42% say their confidence and mental health is boosted. Using a Treasury approved model, the value of CABB volunteer hours and wider positive impact volunteering has equated to £100,000 to the local economy, and £7000 saved to the NHS.
To find out more and apply, visit: www.cabb.org.uk or contact volunteering@cabb.org.uk
