WHEN you've got a problem and don't know what to do, there's no substitute for sound advice from someone who knows what they're talking about.

That's the crucial role of the Citizens Advice Bureau, which last year helped more than 25,000 people in Pendle alone.

This week, September 1 to 7, is national Advice Week 2003 and the Pendle Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) is using the opportunity to highlight its work in the area and appeal for new volunteers.

In West Craven the CAB has an office at 10 Rainhall Road, Barnoldswick, where it has been based for the past 15 months. Before that it was in the old police station on Manchester Road and before that in the old town hall, on Jepp Hill.

Now in the town centre, the office has never been busier, helping West Craveners by actively working to resolve problems or by providing the advice they need.

But what many people don't realise is that Pendle CAB is a charity, staffed by local volunteers.

Claire Strachan, Pendle CAB manager, said: "Pendle CAB is run by local people for local people and we are always looking for more volunteers, regardless of background, to join the team.

"You can train as a general adviser, but we are also always in need of people with information technology (IT) skills, admin skills or public relations and fundraising experience.

"We are especially keen to hear from people with language skills relevant to our local community.

"Many people feel that they really gain from the experience of volunteering and volunteers are the lifeblood of our service. There would be no CAB without them."

One of the volunteers who works from the Barnoldswick office is Mohammed Yaqub.

He gained a degree in IT, but then decided he wanted to study law and finds his part-time work with the CAB relevant to his studies.

"After I graduated I was looking for a way to gain work experience in the area that I want to go into - law. It took me three months to train and now I spend two days a week giving advice.

"It's good fun working here and you can't get bored, it's so varied. Now I have a part-time job at the CAB as a recruitment and training co-ordinator, but I still volunteer as an advisor."

Pendle CAB currently has a team of around 24 volunteers and five more in training, but only one is from Barnoldswick. It would like many more from the West Craven area, as local knowledge often plays a key part in giving good advice.

Another volunteer who works from the Barnoldswick office is retired teacher Alan O'Brien.

"I enjoy the satisfaction of knowing that I am doing some good and helping people, but I also enjoy delving into things and getting to grips with complicated issues," said Alan.

"It's my strong point, the thing I'm good at, so when I retired from teaching and wanted to do something useful I decided to volunteer with the CAB."

In fact he was following in the footsteps of his father, who became a volunteer advisor at the age of 81.

"I would certainly recommend it," said Alan. "There are so many ways to help, depending on what your own strengths are. Every case is different and you can find yourself involved in some amazing and extraordinary situations."

The range of problems the CAB can help with is endless. It can be anything from helping to fill in a form to providing specialist help with debt management.

Nationally and regionally the CAB has specialist paid advisors in fields such as welfare benefits, money matters and immigration. The Barnoldswick office also has access to the CAB national computer database, which has regularly updated advice on the full range of issues.

Local volunteers like Mohammed and Alan are really the "general practitioners" of the CAB service, able to give help and advice on a broad range of issues. And just like in medicine, if the problem is specific, they can refer it to a "specialist" with more in-depth knowledge in that area.

Anyone volunteering to join the CAB team will receive full training, including sessions working alongside experienced advisors, and all expenses are covered. Volunteers must be over 16, but no qualifications or specialist experience is required, just a desire to help other people.

Alan added: "There are lots of valuable skills to be learnt, especially for younger people. It's valuable work and life experience and would certainly enhance anyone's CV."

If you want to know more about volunteering with the CAB, you can call the national recruitment number on 08451 264264.

The Barnoldswick office is open on Mondays and Fridays from 10am to 1pm and on Wednesdays from 1pm to 4pm. But more volunteers could mean more opening hours.