Volunteers are at the heart of the Citizens Advice service and we could not provide the service we do without them. Citizens Advice Darlington provides valuableand timely advice to the local community, on issues including housing, debt, benefits, and employment. The majority of this impact has come from our wonderful volunteers.
We are looking for new Volunteer Advisers who will help Citizens Advice Darlington deliver our advice services to more people in your local community. Working with our team of Advisers and Supervisors, the role will include the following:
· Complete an introduction to Citizens Advice and training for the Adviser role which will comprise of independent and group learning
· Talk to clients over the phone and face to face, to explore the issue
· 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 case record to explain advice and actions taken
· Look out for problems’ that are common, or are unfair,and report to our research and campaigns team
You don’t need specific qualifications or skills but you’ll need to:
· 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 basic numeracy and IT skills
· 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
What’s in it for you?
· 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, problem solving, and increase your employability
· Work with a range of different people, independently and in a team
We ask for 8 hours per week, which can be over one day or spread over two days, for at least 12 months.
We can be flexible so come and talk to us.