Volunteering
Volunteers are the key to how we, at Citizens Advice Sandwell & Walsall can help thousands of people solve their problems each year. Our dedicated, well-trained volunteers come from all walks of life and have a desire to help people, whatever the problem and whoever they are.
Our commitment to valuing diversity and promoting equality means we can encourage individuals who might not otherwise volunteer. Citizens Advice volunteering provides individuals with an opportunity they might not otherwise have had to develop their personal skills and abilities.
The benefits of volunteering with Citizens Advice
As a volunteer with Citizens Advice Sandwell & Walsall you will be joining a national service providing free and independent advice to over 5 million people a year. Although the Citizens Advice service is the world’s largest independent advice-giving agency, its roots and its strength lie with the contribution of local volunteers in their local communities.
Why work with us?
Volunteering can be a good way of:
Gaining new skills, knowledge and experience
Developing existing skills and knowledge
Enhancing your CV
Improving your employment prospects
For some of our other volunteers, volunteering appeals because of its social benefits. These include:
Meeting new people and making new friends
A chance to socialise
Getting to know the local community
All volunteers are fully supported and supervised throughout their involvement with Citizens Advice Sandwell & Walsall.
We make sure that you are not put in situations that are beyond your abilities, and will work with you to help ensure that you find volunteering with us both challenging and rewarding.
If you are interested in volunteering with us, email:
recruitment@citizensadvicesandwell-walsall.org
or download an application form below:
What people say
Volunteering Opportunity - Debt Advice Assistant
What will you do?
- complete an introduction to Citizens Advice and training for your role
- Support Citizens Advice debt advisers by completing debt assessments and callbacks
- write a summary of the clients’ problems and what action you’ve taken
Some examples of what you could do:
- complete an online or paper form with a client to help them claim a benefit
- call a utility company with, or on behalf, of a client, to find out how much money they owe
- discuss income and spending with a client and together draw up a personal budget
- help a client switch their utility provider
What’s in it for you?
- make a real difference to people’s lives
- learn about several key issues such as benefits and debt
- build on valuable skills such as communication and listening
- 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.
What do you need to have?
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
How much time do you need to give?
Ideally we ask for 6 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 disabled people, people with physical or mental health conditions, LGBT+ and non-binary people, and people from Black Asian Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities.
If you are interested in becoming an advice assistant and would like to discuss flexibility around location, time, ‘what you will do’ and how we can support you please contact us.
Contact details
recruitment@citizensadvicesandwell-walsall.org
