Citizens Advice Scotland is calling on people across to consider helping the charity

People are being urged to make a new year resolution to volunteer.

Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) is calling on people across to consider helping the charity in its Citizens Advice network.

The network in Scotland helped over 270,000 people last year, unlocking over £130 million in gains for people.

The service is powered by trained volunteers. Over 2,370 volunteers contributed more than 760,000 hours of their time in 2018-19, the monetary value of this contribution amounts to over £10.9m.

Volunteers are given comprehensive support before they start advising people, and data suggests almost half of all volunteers go on to paid employment or further education.

CAS chief executive Derek Mitchell said: “All across Scotland people have been considering their new year resolutions – and in some cases how long it will be before they break them!

“A brilliant resolution for the new year would be committing to volunteer in the Citizens Advice network.

“Our trained volunteers are simply invaluable to our service, and they make a real difference in their communities, helping people with everything from social security issues, to debt and legal advice.

“What’s more, data suggests almost half of our volunteers go on to either paid employment or further education, so it’s great way to boost skills and confidence as well.”