Volunteer with Citizens Advice Tandridge District
Citizens Advice is the largest advice provider in the UK and has around 20,000 volunteers. At Citizens Advice Tandridge District we have more than 40 volunteers, fully trained and highly skilled.
Their work is supported, monitored and quality assured by a small team of paid staff. There are many volunteer roles and you’re sure to find one that fits your skills, availability, experience and/or interests. By joining us you become part of a highly respected advice network dedicated to working to improve the lives of people in our community.
Why we volunteer
Volunteer opportunities
Administrator
A sound support structure is essential for the running of any organisation. Administrators are key to enabling the advice centres to run smoothly and efficiently. There are various administrative roles, so we will try to match your skills and time to our service needs.
The administrator tasks include:
- Using computer spreadsheets, databases and word processing software
- Maintaining and developing administrative systems
- Stock control of leaflets and materials and updating local information
- Helping to arrange events
- Handling correspondence, telephone calls and emails
- Taking notes and minutes at meetings
Advice Assistant
Advice Assistants work alongside advisers and help with more practical tasks, for example, completing forms which require factual information, such as blue badge applications or council tax support applications, following up on information the client has promised to send us, or phoning clients to check on outcomes.
This role might suit those volunteers who would like to help clients directly but would prefer to focus on a set of clear tasks and not undertake full advice training. We have these opportunities in Caterham and Oxted.
IT Support
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.
IT Support tasks include:
- Providing general IT support all workers, including staff and volunteers
- Troubleshooting
- Training staff and volunteers in IT skills.
Research and Campaigning
By using evidence routinely collected from the clients, you could help bring about changes in local and national policies and services which can benefit everyone - even those who have never used a local Citizens Advice.
As a campaigner, you would:
- Complete and collate evidence forms recording client’s problems
- Identify and raise relevant issues in the bureau
- Train staff and volunteers in identifying issues and completing evidence forms
- Conduct research and write reports
- Get involved in media campaigning
- Liaise with other local Citizens Advice, organisations and agencies.
Adviser
Our Advisers provide confidential, impartial and free information and advice on a wide range of subjects including housing, employment law, debt management, benefits, consumer and family law.
You will interview clients, both face to face on the telephone, research information to provide clients with options so that they can make effective decisions and, where necessary, act on behalf of the client. You will also take an active role influencing government and other organisations by informing them of the effect of their actions on the lives of clients. Opportunities exist across the District in our offices in Caterham and Oxted.
Fundraisers
Citizens Advice Tandridge District is a registered charity and is totally dependent on funding from a variety of sources including the statutory sector, charitable trusts and private donations.
We are always looking for fundraising volunteers to work in the following ways with our Chief Executive Officer and the wider senior leadership team, to meet our fundraising objectives:
- Researching fundraising opportunities online and in the community
- Help organising local fundraising events
- Supporting the promotion of our work through updating our marketing materials.
Even if you only have a few hours a week to spare, this makes a big difference to our efforts, so please get in touch if you feel like you can make a difference.
Media
Some volunteers help to promote the local Citizens Advice service, raising the profile in the local community.
Media volunteer tasks may include:
- Creating media content to help people know how they can use local Citizens Advice services, how they can volunteer at local Citizens Advice and promoting local and national campaigns
- Arranging and attending events or talks
- Writing press releases
- Using social media.
Trustee
Citizens Advice Tandridge District is a registered charity with a Board of Trustee Directors.
Some of the Trustee roles require specific skills but we welcome people of all ages, backgrounds and experience who are representative of our local community. The Trustee Board meets in the evenings so this role could well fit with other full time employment or responsibilities. If you would like to play a central role in a well known and respected charity, this might be just what you’re looking for.
The Trustee Board is responsible for the Governance of the advice centre. It is responsible for:
- Maintain an awareness of how the local Citizens Advice is operating
- Read papers for board meetings and attend meetings
- Work on specific projects with other trustees or staff within the local Citizens Advice to further the strategic objectives of the local Citizens Advice
- Take an active discussion during board meetings and work with other trustees
