Following the completion of a major refurbishment project at the Citizens Advice (CA) Saltash office, the charity is launching an urgent appeal for new volunteers in the town.

The offices, in Belle Vue Road, were officially reopened by Mayor of Saltash Cllr Pete Samuels this week. Community Enterprises PL12, which runs the building, has revamped the ground floor to create a Covid-safe environment for volunteer advisers and members of the public.

The ground floor refurbishment has been mainly funded by a generous grant of £9,700 from the Town Council and was planned and supervised by CEPL12 Director Peter Ryland.

“We have been managing this building under a lease from Cornwall Council for more than five years,” said CEPL12 chair Jo Baskott. “We want to be a good landlord, supportive of CA Cornwall, who will gradually be able to start five-day a week opening using the new facilities. This will be a boost for ourselves, Citizens Advice and the Foodbank working together to help local people with whatever problems life is putting their way.”

CA Cornwall chief executive Gill Pipkin, appealing for volunteers, said: “We can offer full training to people who wish to become advisers in the service. It is not only interesting and varied work which can be done flexibly to suit individual volunteers, but the work will give excellent experience for people who wish to improve their own job prospects.”

CEPL12 also needs volunteers to help local people who lack confidence and opportunity to use online services or computers – a need very apparent at the start of the COVID-19 crisis. Jo said: “This is urgent. If you think you have the knowledge to help people learn, come forward now”.

If you’re interested in volunteering, contact CEPL12 at 4 Fore Street, Saltash (call 01752 848648, email [email protected]), go to www.citizensadvicecornwall.org.uk and click on Volunteer with Us, or email [email protected]