Project overview 

At North East Derbyshire Citizens Advice Bureau we can give free, confidential, impartial and independent advice and information on a wide range of subjects.

What you will be doing

• complete an introduction to Citizens Advice and training for your role
• talk to clients over the phone, video call, or webchat 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 phonecalls, 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

Location

We are based in Clay Cross/Chesterfield, however the successful applicants will have the opportunity to either come into the office or work remotely with full supervision and so location is not necessarily a factor.

Benefits for others

• make a real difference to people’s lives
• have a positive impact in your community.

Hours per week

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 come and talk to us.

DBS required

No

Benefits to self

• 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.

If you're training to be a solicitor and you train and volunteer as a local Citizens Advice adviser, you may be able to get up to six months off your solicitor training contract. See Solicitors Regulation Authority for more information.

Skills and experience required

• 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
• If working remotely you will need a computer, a smart phone/tablet and a landline telephone.

Expenses information

Reimbursed

How to apply

To apply for this volunteering role please email volunteering@shu.ac.uk

If you have any questions about the accessibility of this volunteering role; or any questions in general, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.