Charity’s debt team shortlisted for IMA award for second year in a row
- Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire’s Debt Adviser Angus Macdonald has been shortlisted for Newcomer of the Year at the IMA awards
- This comes after the charity’s Money Advice Supervisor Yvonne Parks was shortlisted for Money Adviser of the Year last year
- This week is Volunteers Week – and Angus’ background in volunteering for the charity shows the possibilities open to volunteers
A South Gloucestershire man who began helping people struggling with debt problems a year ago has now been shortlisted for a national award.
It is the second year in a row an adviser from Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire’s debt team has been recognised in the Institute of Money Advisers’ (IMA) awards.
Angus Macdonald, from South Gloucestershire, took a sabbatical from his job as a manager in the IT industry in 2022. He began volunteering for the advice charity.
He made the decision not to return to his job and took on the paid role of Trainee Debt Adviser a year ago.
And now he has been shortlisted for Newcomer of the Year at the IMA Awards. It is only a year after his supervisor Yvonne Parks was shortlisted for Money Adviser of the Year.
The two consecutive shortlistings speaks of the quality of the charity’s debt team and wider service.
The debt team assists people who come to the charity for help with debt problems. Their work includes making arrangements with creditors.
Angus will find out if he has won on 12th June when the awards are held in Birmingham.
Yvonne, who nominated Angus, has highlighted how he exceeds expectations in his work. This includes regularly researching the law in his own time.
IMA award shortlisting
Angus has spoken about the benefits of having volunteered with the charity before starting as a debt adviser.
This week (3rd to 9th June) is Volunteers Week. Angus’ success shows the possibilities open to those who volunteer with the charity.
He said: “I’m excited to be shortlisted. It gives me a lot of satisfaction and makes me think I’m doing the right things and making a difference.
“I felt after years in IT I wanted to have a change and do something that was more local rather than working for a large multinational.
“And rather than a business-to-business relationship, I wanted to do something for people.
“I took a sabbatical and that’s when I did the volunteering for Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire.
“When I started the sabbatical it was quite possible I would go back but I enjoyed the volunteering and decided I didn’t want to go back.
“I couldn’t have done any of this without Yvonne – she’s put a lot of effort into training me, helping me and answering all the questions I have.
“Becoming a debt adviser was one of the best decisions I have ever made.”
Yvonne, from Bristol, is Money Advice Supervisor at the charity and leads a team of four debt advisers.
She said: “Angus is always willing to go the extra mile – not just for colleagues but also for clients – and he does a lot of studying in his own time.
“I was also impressed with the way he fitted into Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire and the team so well. And the way he was with clients – his clients immediately trusted him.”
Cotswold Way walk
She cited Angus’ involvement with the walking team taking on the Cotswold Way Ultra Challenge to raise money for the charity.
The team will walk 47km of the Cotswold Way Ultra Challenge on 23rd June and can be sponsored here: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/cotswoldwaycasg
Yvonne added: “I felt really pleased that the work we do has been recognised.
“And the fact two people out of our debt team of four becoming finalists in the IMA – a UK institution – shows the quality of our staff and the great service our clients get.”
Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire is a local, independent charity. It provides free, confidential and impartial advice to anyone who needs it in South Gloucestershire.
Only a portion of its work is covered by local authority funding so every individual donation helps.
It runs face-to-face open-door sessions in Yate, Cadbury Heath, Stoke Gifford, Thornbury, Bradley Stoke, Emersons Green and Lyde Green. It also operates a free Adviceline telephone service.
Anyone in South Gloucestershire seeking free, independent, impartial and confidential advice from Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire can call 0808 278 7947.
The charity’s opening times and contact details are available at: www.southgloscab.org.uk/get-advice/visit-us/
Published 03/06/24.
