Initial Contact Volunteer Advisers

We support our community by providing everyone with access to independent, free advice to help our clients deal with life’s problems and challenges.

When you volunteer with Citizens Advice Tendring, we will support you to be the best that you can be to deliver the service our clients deserve. 

Some examples of support you may provide: 

• giving information and advice to clients; in person, over the phone or online.  All supported by our team of experienced supervisors.
• supporting the service run smoothly through customer service or supporting other volunteers.
• supporting research and campaigns themes.

We have a rolling training programme for volunteer advisers across our full range of enquiry areas; including benefits, 

employment, housing and money advice.  

The key benefits to volunteering with us are:
• You will learn new skills or change career.
• You will improve your employability and confidence.
• You will keep your mind active.
• You will do something positive to support your community

What will you do?

• complete an introduction to Citizens Advice and training for your role
• talk to clients over the phone, face to face, or online 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 client 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.

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.

No prior experience is necessary in these areas as you’ll receive full training.

Skills

• 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
• How much time do you need to give?

Ideally 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.

Valuing inclusion

Our volunteers come from a range of backgrounds and we particularly welcome applications from racially minoritised people/people of colour, disabled people, people with physical or mental health conditions, LGBTQ+ and non-binary 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.be willing to undertake training in your role.