Volunteer
Becoming a volunteer
You are welcome to apply if you are able to commit to:
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At least 6 months following initial training
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Undertaking our online and group training (initial training requires commitment to 7 hours a week for 11 weeks)
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Undertake a DBS check if the role requires one (this will be stated in the role profile)
If you wish to volunteer for us it is necessary for you to have good IT skills and access to email and internet as lots of our training is online. You will also need good communication skills – written, verbal and listening.
Why volunteer
Each of our volunteers gets different rewards and satisfaction from our work.
Many enjoy being part of a supportive team. Some enjoy making a difference to the local community, especially for the vulnerable. For others it is about helping people take steps to solve their problems and about gaining experience and the opportunity to move into other roles, for example an adviser.
You will of course get reasonable expenses incurred in relation to your volunteering role with us reimbursed.
There are so many different reasons to volunteer. You can read more about it here.
“There are no negatives to volunteering”.
Lucy told us her children are growing up, needing less of their time, and volunteering has given her a new purpose and her self confidence has been boosted. She said that she finds volunteering for us rewarding and fulfilling through helping people by giving them advice and support.
Lucy explained she enjoys that every client has a different situation and she feels she is intellectually challenged and stimulated by searching and learning about topics such as benefits housing, employment and other interesting subjects on behalf of our clients. Plus, she likes the social interaction with colleagues and meeting and making new friends.
“I am now coming to the near end of my training for the Citizens Advice volunteering and it has been an amazing experience so far. This opportunity so far has allowed me to develop various new skills, confidence and be commercially aware. This would have not been done without the outstanding support from the amazing staff that has enabled me to grow.”
We have interviewed some of our advisers about all the benefits of volunteering with us! Visit our adviser testimonials page to read more.
Current Roles and Opportunities
We have put together information about our roles and volunteering opportunities. We hope that this will help you decide if any of our roles are right for you.
If you are interested in any of these roles and are happy to wait for a suitable vacancy, you can still register your interest by completing an application form.
We are expanding our group of Assessors and have duty sessions available Monday to Friday 9.00 am to 1.00 pm or 12.30pm to 4.30pm. We ask that you cover two sessions which can be a whole day or split across two days. Complete role description
We are looking for volunteers to cover one 4 hour shift (or two 4 hour shifts) between the hours of 9.00am and 4.30pm, Monday to Friday. Complete role description
We are looking for generalist advisers to cover one 4 hour shift (or two 4 hour shifts) between the hours of 9.00am and 4.30pm, Monday to Friday. Complete role description
We are looking for volunteers to cover one 4 hour shift (or two 4 hour shifts) between the hours of 9.00am and 4.30pm, Monday to Friday. Complete role description
We are also looking for an administrator to join our Macmillan team on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 9.00am and 4.30pm. Complete role description
- Assessor
- Adviser
- Research and Campaigns
- Administrator
How to get involved
1. Once you have identified which role you think is right for you, fill in our Volunteer Application Form.
We would be grateful if you could complete a Diversity Monitoring Form as this is one way that helps us to ensure that there is no discrimination in the recruitment process.
2. Application received.
A member of our team will contact you to let you know the next step. We will arrange an informal chat with you and one of our managers to get to know you a little and give you a chance to find out more about the role.
3. Recruitment checks.
All offers of any volunteering opportunities are subject to satisfactory references and ID checks. Some of our roles will require to complete a criminal record check but it won’t cost you anything.
4. Learning about your role.
Our training team will hold online training sessions and will provide you with learning material, induction and ongoing support before you get into your stride. We will also ask you to sign our Volunteer Agreement.
5. Welcome to Citizens Advice Leicestershire.
Once you complete your training, you will be assigned to a manager who will be of assistance whenver you need it and support you throughout your volunteering.