REDDITCH folk are being urged to join the UK's force of 21 million who spend an average of four hours every week volunteering and helping their community.

National Volunteers' Week runs from Friday and Redditch CAB is taking the opportunity to highlight the work of its dedicated team of volunteers.

And they are also appealing for more people to step forward and offer their help.

About 80 per cent of Redditch CAB workers are volunteers.

Most of them are trained advisers, providing information on a range of subjects, including debt, benefits, consumer issues, employment disputes, housing and relationship problems.

Other volunteers offer administrative skills and clerical back-up.

Formal qualifications are not needed and many find CAB training and experience can help to provide a route into paid work.

Redditch CAB manager, Julia Docherty, said: "The challenge and variety the CAB service offers is a big attraction, together with the fact that involvement really does improve job prospects.

"Volunteering for the CAB offers a real chance to help develop skills, knowledge and confidence.

"We try to be flexible so volunteers can arrange their hours around other commitments."

People aged 16-25 could also get involved with the bureau's Millennium Volunteers' Project.

Redditch CAB needs someone with IT skills to help support and develop the use of the bureau's computer system.

Credit is given for volunteering and when a person clocks up 200 hours, an award of excellence is given.

For more details, call Carol Griffiths on 66664 or write or call into Redditch CAB, Central Chambers, 20 Unicorn Hill, Redditch.