Citizens Advice Press release

Lambeth, Wales, September 28, 2006 – A Lambeth woman who helps the local Somali population sort out every kind of practical problem has won a top national volunteering award.

Maryan Ahmed has been a volunteer adviser with local charity Merton and Lambeth Citizens Advice Bureau for three years. Now her work running an advice project for the Somali community has helped earn her the national adviser category of the Citizens Advice Volunteer of the Year Awards 2006.

The award was presented by HRH The Princess Royal, patron of Citizens Advice, in front of 900 delegates at the charity’s annual conference in York this week. Maryan was one of seven category winners in the awards, sponsored by The Royal Bank of Scotland Group and chosen by a panel of independent judges.**

Maryan single-handedly set up the CAB Somali advice project, which has now dealt with almost 4,000 cases. She sees at least 25 clients a week, advising on welfare benefits, housing, immigration, debt, family, domestic violence and education issues.

Merton and Lambeth CAB Chief Executive Fosuah Poku said: “Maryan’s impact on the bureau cannot be exaggerated. In a borough containing one of the largest Somali populations in the UK, many of whom are not English speakers, Maryan’s project is a vital, dependable lifeline to thousands. Without her work many people would suffer through not knowing their rights and not being able to express their needs clearly. She represents the very best of the CAB ”

More than 20,000 of the 26,000 people who work for Citizens Advice are trained volunteers, making Citizens Advice – the umbrella charity for Citizens Advice Bureaux - one of the largest voluntary organizations in the UK. Their efforts are worth an estimated £73 million to the charity each year.