BU providing vital services to Citizens Advice

A growing team of BU graduates, placement students and volunteers are providing vital services to people across the region with Citizens Advice.

A close working relationship between BU and Citizens Advice Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, is building a pipeline of talent that is helping the charity to support hundreds of people every month. The service, part of a national network of 250 individual charities, provides information, education, and advice services to help people resolve financial, legal and welfare issues while campaigning for positive change.

Joe Dance graduated from BU with a degree in law with politics in 2020 and now works as Debt Team Lead and Debt Advisor at BCP Citizens Advice. He said: “My time at BU gave me a good foundation of research skills, an understanding of legislation that I frequently come across in my day-to-day work and general confidence in my ability to tackle any problem I come across.”

“Having joined Citizens Advice, I find it rewarding to help people discover that it’s never too late to learn about financially responsibility. I enjoy providing a safe, non-judgemental environment where people can tackle their problems and find solutions by working with like-minded individuals. My advice to other students and graduates thinking about their future career path is that job satisfaction matters in the long run and there is no better feeling than being able to help people daily.”

Jamie White graduated from BU’s LLB (Hons) in Law in 2020 and is now Operations Manager at Citizens Advice. He said: “I first came here as an adviser on my placement year, and it allowed me to directly apply the law I had been learning about into practical advice for clients. Since graduating, I have returned and progressed to overseeing all day-to-day activities in my capacity as Operations Manager within the Senior Management Team. Having the background in law has allowed me to advise clients with confidence, as well as to play my part in ensuring the organisation operates ethically.”

“It has opened my eyes to issues facing households in our local community. Seeing clients benefit from the advice given, and seeing the stress and worry being relieved, has been really rewarding. I enjoy working alongside like-minded people, who want to make a small, but meaningful difference.”

Charlotte Lodge studied BSc Forensic Investigation at BU and is now acting as a Volunteer Advisor while she completes her postgraduate LLM Legal Practice course. She said: “I love the idea of making a real impact in the community. Citizens Advice provides meaningful, hands-on experience into what the local community is facing. We are able to provide advice that makes a real difference to someone’s life.”

Meanwhile, former law student Natalia completed her placement year with BCP Citizens Advice and now runs the digital and phone advice team. She said: “Doing the placement year teaches you a lot and take you out of the university bubble. Doing the placement at Citizens Advice, as opposed to a law firm, was very empowering as it gives you greater responsibilities and opportunities to build your character, skills and abilities.”

Citizens Advice BCP is a registered charity which last year provided advice and support to more than 13,000 local people, with one of their fastest growing groups aged under 25.

Find out more about BU’s study pathways in law and about how to get involved to support the work of BCP Citizens Advice.