Volunteer

Advisers

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Without our trained volunteer Advisers at Citizens Advice Darlington, Redcar and Cleveland, we could not continue to meet the demand for advice. Our Generalist Advice Service looks at a client’s situation holistically as opposed to looking at their problems in isolation from one another. Advisers are given free training, both formal and on-the-job. As a Citizens Advice adviser you would:

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• interview clients

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

• draft letters

• make phone calls on their behalf

• refer them to other agencies

• represent them in court and at tribunals.

 

Attention all law students volunteering at Citizens Advice can go toward to two years QWE 

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Customer service volunteer

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Customer service volunteer are an integral part of the team, managing ‘front-of-house’ on the basis of information provided by the advice session supervisor. Depending on the size and resources of the bureau, the receptionist role may be undertaken by one or more people. As a customer service volunteer you would:

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• greet clients and other visitors

• answer the phone

• ensure clients know what is happening and how long they have to wait

• explain the services available

• point out leaflets, lists and self-help materials

• monitor client numbers and waiting times

• maintain the reception area

• enter information into computer systems.

 

Specific qualifications and experience are not required to take on the role. You need to:

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• have a good manner when talking to people

• have basic computing skills

• have an understanding of, and commitment to, confidentiality

• be friendly and approachable.

 

More details

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Gateway assessors

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Gateway assessors help clients get the right help in the fastest time possible. They assess people’s needs, either face-to-face or over the phone, and identify the most appropriate course of action. That might be self-help information, referral to a specialist organisation or an appointment with a Citizens Advice adviser. As a gateway assessor you would:

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• greet clients and explain the gateway assessment process

• explore the client’s problem(s) and situation

• assess the risk/urgency of the client’s issue and their ability to deal with the problem themselves

• identify the next step that needs to be taken

• summarise the content of the interview for the client and explain what happens next

• ensure clients know they can return if necessary

• update the database, completing the gateway assessment screens.

 

Specific qualifications or experience are not required to train for the role. You need to:

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• be good at listening

• have a good manner when talking to people

• have basic computing skills

• be open minded and non-judgmental

• enjoy helping people.

 

More details

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Adviceline telephone assessors

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An Adviceline telephone assessor is a diverse role and you will not be expected to know it all! We provide all Adviceline telephone assessors with training, which will help you develop the skills you need to deliver an excellent level of service to clients.

As an Adviceline telephone assessor you would:

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• be the first point of access for Citizen Advice clients when they ring the Adviceline number

• deal with a wide range of clients problems and issues

• support members of the public of all ages and backgrounds

• give information from the Citizens Advice electronic information system and other sources to the client

• refer clients for more specialist advice where appropriate

• keep records of all clients cases on the database

• help prevent future problems by identifying issues that affect a lot of clients.

 

Specific qualifications or experience is not required to train for the role. You need to:

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• be good at listening

• have a good telephone manner

• have basic computing skills

• be open minded and non-judgemental

• enjoy helping people.

 

Once fully trained we will continue to support you throughout your time as an Adviceline telephone assessor.

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Administrators

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As a Citizens Advice volunteer administrator you would ensure the smooth running of a bureau by:

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• word processing

• file management

• arranging events

• using databases and spreadsheets

• answering emails and phone calls

• updating local information.​

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IT support co-ordinators

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A wide range of our essential work depends on well-run IT systems. We use them for keeping track of cases, keeping in touch with clients, accessing e-services on their behalf, and monitoring trends. As an IT co-ordinator you would:

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• support local Citizens Advice staff and volunteers.

• get to the root of any technical problems and solve these.

• train local Citizens Advice staff and volunteers in IT skills.

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Marketing & Communications

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Citizens Advice Darlington, Redcar and Cleveland would like to raise its profile in the local community to attract funding, recruit volunteers, promote local and national Citizens Advice campaigns and to ensure that potential clients know how to access our services. This volunteer role will involve:

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More details

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Fundraiser

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Citizens Advice Darlington, Redcar and Cleveland is a local independent registered charity reliant on income from local authorities, companies, charitable trusts and individuals. As a fundraiser you would:

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More detail