Citizens Advice Shropshire’s latest member of staff has swapped his career as a funeral director to take up a new role with the county charity.

Nick Willis, 31, has just completed his training to be a supervisor working with volunteers for Citizens Advice Shropshire based in Shrewsbury and Ludlow.

Mr Willis and his family have moved to Shrewsbury from Hastings to take up the new post and he said he felt privileged to be working for the organisation in Shropshire.

“When I saw this job advertised in Shropshire it was the impetus I needed,” Mr Willis said.

“There are very few organisations I would have moved for but Citizens Advice is one of them. I have such respect for the work it does. It’s really a privilege to be working for the organisation,” he said.

He thinks there are some similarities between his new and his previous job.

“In both you are dealing with people at a very difficult time in their lives and so in both you need understanding, compassion and knowledge,” he said.

Now Nick is helping spearhead a drive to recruit new volunteers particularly in the Ludlow area.  The south Shropshire team has organised an open day for potential volunteers on March 24 at its offices in Lower Galdeford.

“I think there is a perception that it is only older or retired people who volunteer for Citizens Advice and admittedly they are often the ones with the time to spare.

“But in fact in the time I have spent doing my training – which includes all the elements of training for volunteers – I have met people from all ages and walks of life. There is a tremendous breadth of different types of people in the teams which creates a real camaraderie,” he said.

He added that the work with Citizens Advice Shropshire both as a member of staff and as a volunteer brought a great sense of achievement.

“You are working with clients who are facing challenges that you may have no experience of. It gives you the opportunity to put them on the path to a solution and empower them which is incredibly rewarding,” he said.

Nick will be on hand to share his experience of working with Citizens Advice Shropshire at the volunteer open day on March 24 from 10.30am to 3pm.

Information on the open day is available by contacting training officer Cris Willis at training@shropshirecab.cabnet.org.uk or through the website at www.cabshropshire.org.uk