Charnwood Citizens Advice Bureau has over 40 Volunteers who carry out a variety tasks for an agreed amount of time each month as Advisers, Administrators or Trustees.
Advisers
No specific qualifications are needed to train as an Adviser but you do need to be good at listening to other people and open minded, enjoy helping other people and working in a team as well as being able to read and write English and handle basic maths.
Some of the tasks Advisers perform include:
- Interview Clients in the bureau, over the telephone and at outreach centres.
- Provide Clients with information from the CAB’s own information system and many other sources.
- Explain the choices available to Clients and the implications of each one.
- Help by writing letters, making phone calls, filling out forms and making calculations.
- If appropriate, identify other Agencies that may be better placed to offer help.
- Keep records of Client’s cases.
Accredited training programmes are provided for all Advisers.
Trustees
Each Citizens Advice Bureau is an independent Charity with a Board of Trustees. The Board has responsibility for policy and planning, employment and legal matters, finance and standards, as well as for ensuring that the bureau meets the needs of the local community. The Trustees appoint a Bureau Manager who has day-to-day responsibility for the management and operation of the organisation.
Trustee Boards need people from all sections of the community, with a wide range of skills, knowledge, experience and perspectives. Trustee meetings are usually held in the evening but it is helpful if Trustees can be available occasionally during working hours.
Other Volunteer Roles
Volunteers also serve the Bureau as part time Receptionists, Administrators, Campaigners, event organizers and in general support activities.