Volunteer Adviser – we are currently operating a waiting list

We have had an amazing response in relation to people wanting to volunteer as an adviser and make a difference to people's lives. So for now we are operating a waiting list. We are still welcoming applications, please indicate that you are happy to be placed on the waiting list on the application form. Once a space becomes available we will contact you to check your current circumstances and availability.

Based in Clay Cross (near Chesterfield) in an accessible building with plenty of free and accessible parking.

What will you do?

• Complete an introduction to Citizens Advice and training for your role.
• Talk to clients over the phone, video call or face to face 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 debts 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.

Other roles:

• If you don’t want to undertake the full training involved to be a full adviser, there may be other suitable roles such as:
• Form filling - helping clients to complete questionnaires to claim disability benefits such as PIP.
• Budgeting - helping clients to look at their income and expenditure and find ways to help them save money.
• Social media - help us to promote our service and awareness of help available (option to work remotely).
• Research and campaigns (option to work remotely).

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 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.
• And we’ll reimburse expenses too.

What do you need to have?

• 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 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.

How much time do you need to give?

Ideally, we ask for 4 hours per week, which can be over one day or spread over two days, for at least 12 months. We can be flexible so talk to us if this doesn’t suit.

Our volunteers come from a range of backgrounds and we particularly welcome applications from disabled people, people with physical or mental health conditions, LGBTQ+, and racially minoritised people. If you are interested in becoming an adviser and would like to discuss flexibility around location, time, what you will do, and how we can support you please contact us. In some circumstances, there may even be an option for home working.

If you would like to have a chat with us first please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Claire Chatterton, on 07305078145.