Various Volunteer Opportunities Available

Benefits form filler
Benefit claim forms can be complicated and confusing for our clients. Therefore, getting help completing these forms promptly can reduce stress for the client and may help them to get their money quicker. As a benefits form filler, you will be completing paper and online forms with clients, for example to apply for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Attendance Allowance (AA). If you have an understanding of benefits or are willing to learn more about the benefits system, then this could be the role for you.

Face-to-face or telephone assessor (including Community Outreach Adviser)
You will be responsible for providing guidance and information to clients in either a face-to-face or telephone setting on various issues such as benefits, housing and employment. You will play a crucial role in helping individuals navigate through challenges and make informed decisions to achieve their goals. You will have the opportunity to work with a diverse range of clients, and be responsible for understanding their unique needs and circumstances. We are looking for volunteers who are passionate about helping others, have good interpersonal skills and are willing to learn new skills. You will:

-Talk to clients to explore what problems they've come for help with

Why volunteer?
Our volunteers come from a range of backgrounds and communities, and volunteer with us for a range reasons, including to:
- Make a positive impact on people's’ lives
- Gain new skills and knowledge and build experience for employment
- Use and develop existing skills in varied and rewarding roles
- Improve health, wellbeing, confidence and self-esteem
- Meet new people from a range of backgrounds and ages, and make friends
- Get to know the local community and give something back
- Experience good training and support and to feel part of a team
We reimburse reasonable travel expenses so you won’t be out of pocket from volunteering.


What do you need?
You don’t need specific qualifications or skills but you’ll need to:
- Be friendly and approachable.
- Respect views, values and cultures that are different to your own.
- Have good 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.


Inclusive volunteering
Citizens Advice believes that the skills, experience and satisfaction that come from volunteering should be available to everyone. We have a diverse workforce and we actively encourage applications for volunteer roles from all parts of the community, including Black Asian Minority Ethnic (BAME) volunteers, disabled volunteers, volunteers with physical and mental health conditions, LGBT+ and non-binary volunteers.  Citizens Advice has 4 network groups: 1) BAME, 2) Disability, 3) Lesbian Gay and Bisexual, and 4) Trans & Non-Binary, who raise awareness and promote inclusivity within Citizens Advice. The network groups also provide an opportunity to talk and support each other in a confidential environment. We encourage inclusive volunteering by focusing on matching volunteer roles available with your qualities, skills and interests. We challenge discrimination, promote equality and value diversity.


Disabled volunteers
We want to make sure that you don’t feel that your health condition or impairment is a barrier to volunteering with us. We welcome disabled volunteers and volunteers with long term health conditions, including mental health conditions. Talk to us at any stage of the recruitment process about what support or equipment would enable you to volunteer with us, including physical  requirements, time commitment or role flexibility.


Ex-offenders
CAWB has a service-wide commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and we recognise  the value that people with criminal records can bring to our service. Having a conviction or criminal record is not, in itself, a bar to volunteering with CAWB. This is with the exception of offences against vulnerable adults and children. With all other offences, we will consider this on a case by case basis and will take into account a range of factors such as: 
- whether the offence is relevant to the role applied for
- the seriousness of any offence revealed
- the age of the applicant at the time of the offence(s)
- the length of time since the offence(s) occurred
- whether the applicant has a pattern of offending behaviour
- the circumstances surrounding the offence(s)
- the explanation(s) provided
- whether the applicant’s circumstances have changed since the offending behaviour.
We will ask about convictions and criminal records after we’ve made a conditional offer for a volunteer role. If you’re concerned or would like to discuss your individual circumstances further, please contact us beforehand.