What can I do?

Our volunteers come from a range of backgrounds and communities and volunteer with us for a range reasons.

As a volunteer you’ll receive an introduction to the service and training for your role, as well as support and supervision from our supervisors during your time volunteering with us, and opportunities for development.

We give all volunteers, whether you are an adviser, an assessor, a receptionist or an information assistant, free, formal and on-the-job training. You are supported every step of the way and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses reimbursed.

Our roles

As a volunteer at Citizens Advice you don’t need any specific qualifications or experience.

You’ll need to be friendly and approachable and have a respect for views, values and cultures that are different to your own.

Most roles will require you to have a basic IT skills, be a good listener and have good written skills.

All of our public-facing roles take place in the day time (Monday to Friday 9.45am to 5pm)

Our roles include:

Assessor

We will train you to:

• assess clients’ problems via telephone and face-to-face and email

• identify key information about clients’ problems

• help clients find the information they need using our self-help booths

• assess and agree the most appropriate level of service for that client

• refer and signpost clients appropriately to suit their needs

• enter details and monitoring information on to our computer system

The Assessor Training Programme is run 4 times a year in January, April, July and October.

Adviser

We will train you to:

• interview clients

• provide comprehensive advice to clients using our information system

• calculate clients’ entitlements to benefits

• formulate financial statements

• help them negotiate with people such as creditors or service providers

• draft letters

• make telephone calls on behalf of clients

Research and campaigns volunteer

Our research and campaigns volunteers identify trends in the problems experienced by our clients, to see where policies and practices are negatively affecting our clients.

Research and campaigns volunteers may do research, such as client surveys, to find out more about the issues, and then organise a campaign to bring about change. This might be writing a press release for the local paper, writing to an elected official like a local councillor, holding a public awareness raising event, or using social media.

Volunteers may also get involved in campaigns with national Citizens Advice, such as Universal Credit.

Fundraising volunteer

Each local Citizens Advice is a registered charity, reliant on money from local authorities, companies, charitable trusts and individuals.

We have an active friends and fundraising group who organise fundraising events.

Fundraising volunteers may help with researching fundraising opportunities, organising and running events, or creating materials or presentations that could be used at events to raise the profile of the local Citizens Advice and raise money.

Find out more

Find out more about volunteering with Citizens Advice in our volunteering pack (opens in a new window).

Email us at admin@croydoncab.org.uk if you have any questions or need the volunteer pack in another format.