V for Volunteering

Last week, I went along to talk to local students taking part in the excellent V for Volunteering course in the House of Commons, organised by the Enfield Citizens Advice Bureau. The purpose of this course was for students to learn more about the history and law-giving functions of the two Houses of Parliament, as well as finding out about the CAB's vital national role as a lobbier of Parliament, and a supplier of statistics and arguments which have a major influence on the making of new laws.

MPs' experience of the Citizens' Advice Bureau varies, according to the type of constituency they represent. All I can say is that the CAB's Social Policy function, as a definer and defender of people's rights, is vital in my multicultural constituency of Edmonton. The CAB has championed a number of important issues: most recently it has argued that tenants' deposits need to be protected from unscrupulous landlords, and as a result we now have a national scheme which landlords can sign up to, which protects those deposits. Now it is highlighting the dearth of National Health dentists across the UK.

The CAB is one of the most important agencies maintaining the UK's social safety net, so I was happy to give this course my full support.

Below: A picture of us all on the day. In the picture are Enfield CAB Supervisor Marcia Cabey (back of picture), front left, David Tinline, a CAB Public Affairs Officer, Volunteer Development Manager Christine Arthur (centre), course organiser and Communications Consultant John Oakes (left) and , left to right, the students Pritish Katri, Mariam Ahmadzade (back row),Jamil Mohammed, Ewa Bienkowska, Farhan Farooqui and Laurentino Figueiras. Photo: Robin Humphreys