Volunteers

There are volunteer opportunities for advisers, gateway assessors, research staff, administrative support staff and Trustees.

What do volunteer workers do?

Gateway Assessors & Advisers

• Interviewing – You will learn interviewing techniques, how to listen, and then talk to clients and ask questions to make the issues clear.
• Giving information – Training will enable you to access information from our computer systems and reference books.
• Giving advice – Your job is to give the client all the courses of action available to them so they can decide what to do
• Giving practical help – Completing forms, making telephone calls, writing letters. You will also be trained in calculating benefits, tax and debts.
• Case recording – You will be shown how to record your interviews to enable another advice worker to carry on further work for a client should they return for more help.
• Research and Campaign – Identify issues where clients have been unfairly treated.

What do volunteers gain ?

• Rewarding and stimulating work that is so varied it can never be boring
• The opportunity to update skills and learn new ones
• A comprehensive training programme is provided which will be tailored to individual needs
• Job specific IT training
• Help for those wishing to re-enter the job market by :
  • providing experience in a caring supportive environment
  • a reference for future employers

What we ask from a volunteer adviser

• Are you prepared to honour our committment to impartiality ?
• Can you agree to observe our strict rules of client confidentiality ?
• Will you carry out the Citizens Advice’s policy on anti-racism ?
• Are you willing to undertake extensive training ?
• Are you prepared to attend our monthly staff meetings ?
• Are you prepared to keep yourself up to date with new information ?
• Are you available to volunteer for 10 hours each week ?
• Are you willing to be flexible in the days that you work ?
• Are you willing to continue to attend courses after your initial period of training is over ?

How to find out more

If you are interested in joining our friendly team then please contact Jenny Hedges,  Manager Citizens Advice Mid Bedfordshire , by email: recruitment@midbedscab.cabnet.org.uk