This year marks the 40th year of service to the community for the Independent Advice Centre, Wantage.

Local MP and Government minister, Ed Vaizey, joined staff and volunteers earlier this year to celebrate the event and cut the birthday cake. During those 40 years, the office location has changed twice, the name has changed once and the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service was received.

From humble beginnings in 1971, housed in small offices at the back of Woolworths (now Cargo), in Wantage, the advice centre has established itself as a vital source of help to local residents.

At the celebration ceremony, Ed Vaizey said: “The Independent Advice Centre is amazing and has a very large footprint covering all the local parishes. I am honoured to be invited to celebrate their 40th year. I am happy to support their fundraising efforts and it would be wonderful to see them on a sustainable financial footing.”

Advice services cover a wide range of topics, including debt management and last year the volunteer advisors completed 4,534 client consultations. The volunteer transport scheme is also much in demand for trips to hospitals, shopping and more, with volunteer drivers covering 5000 miles a month. Latterly, the advice centre has expanded services further with the introduction of the Good Neighbour scheme, with volunteers helping over 70 clients with small tasks or simply being someone to talk to. New chairman Geoff Hamer said: “Increasing numbers of clients are obviously putting us under pressure.

“Our clients are coming in with ever more complex problems, not helped by changes in rules and regulations from above. It is only possible to maintain these services by the professionalism of all the volunteers and the new management team.”

As well as servicing the community, the advice centre not only gives comfort and advice for those that daily ask for help but also indirectly helps the volunteers.

Longstanding volunteer Roger Homer, a retired physicist, said: “I’ve been a volunteer driver and advisor since 2003. Without doubt this has added quality and satisfaction to my life.”

To find out more about becoming a volunteer, or to help fundraise for the centre please call 01235 765348 for more information.

If you are interested in contributing to this column contact OCVA (Oxfordshire Community and Voluntary Action) by email at voluntaryvoice@ocva.org.uk or call Jackie Balchin on 01865 258915