Volunteer Adviser

As a volunteer you will:

• complete an introduction to Citizens Advice and training for your role
• talk to clients over the phone, face to face, or online to explore what problems they’ve come for help with
• find information about the clients’ problems and help them to understand their options
• support clients to take action to resolve their problems. This might include drafting or writing letters, making phone calls, or referring the client to another organisation
• write a summary of the clients’ problems and what action you’ve taken
• look out for problems’ that are common, or are unfair, and write a short report about the problem or a letter to an elected official like an MP, AM or local councillor ##Some examples of what you could do##:
• help clients with debt work out a reasonable amount to pay back, and make a phone call to an organisation they owe money to.
• explore what benefits a client is entitled to and help them to complete a benefit application form.
• help a client who has problems with their landlord to understand their housing rights.

• make a real difference to people’s lives
• learn about a range of issues such as benefits, debt, employment and housing.
• build on valuable skills such as communication, listening and problem solving, and increase your employability
• work with a range of different people, independently and in a team.
• have a positive impact in your community.

• be friendly and approachable
• be non-judgmental and respect views, values and cultures that are different to your own
• have good listening skills
• have excellent verbal and written communication skills
• have good maths and IT skills
• be able to understand information and explain it to others
• be willing to learn about and follow the Citizens Advice aims, principles and policies, including confidentiality and data protection
• be willing to undertake training in your role