WINCHESTER’s volunteers were praised at the annual meeting of the recently-merged Citizens Advice Bureau.

The branch, which was formed following the merger of the Winchester, Bishop’s Waltham and Meon Valley bureaux, discussed the “challenging times” ahead.

Chairman Susan Lambert referred to the 43 hours of paid staff (two persons) made redundant as a result of the merger but added, “We have been providing a service every day.”

Guest speaker Cllr Robert Humby, deputy leader and portfolio for economic development at Winchester City Council, paid tribute to the charity’s volunteers and said: “The voluntary sector has thrived in the Winchester area. We know that the voluntary sector reaches people others cannot.”

Referring to her origins within the bureau, chief executive Jenny Meadows said: “I started as a volunteer. I walked in and I ended up staying.”

Mrs Meadows continued the praise of the voluntary sector stating that Winchester District was one of the only bureaux that helped develop volunteers to become advice supervisors, a role normally filled by paid employees.

She said: “Volunteers are ambassadors for our services. We have, give or take, 100 volunteers, which equates to £444,844 economic value.”