• Why volunteer for us?
• What should I do next?
• What do our volunteers do?
• Advisors
• Administrators
• IT Support
• Trustee Board Members

All sorts of people volunteer for many different reasons. But one thing that unites them all is that they find it challenging, rewarding and varied.

Volunteering provides an opportunity to learn new skills and to develop existing ones:

• CAB advisor training is accredited by the Open College Network, and is respected and valued throughout the advice sector.
• Each role will enable you to develop specific expertise. For example, you might improve your IT and organisational skills as an administrator, or learn how to deal with the media and develop research skills as a campaigner.
• In any role, you will develop your skills in a number of valuable areas, like communication and dealing with the public, as well as increasing your self confidence through practical hands-on experience.
• There are opportunities for everyone to develop - you never stop learning!

For many people, the best thing about volunteering for Citizens Advice Bureau is getting to meet a wide range of people and make new friends. There is a real team spirit at the bureau, and we provide a supportive environment to make sure that you get the most out of your time with us.

Some roles are more flexible than others. We will do our best to find a role for you that fits in with your interests, and we will be as flexible as possible in enabling you to volunteer at the times that suit you best.

You may find that the bureau deals with issues close to your heart. For example, more people from black and minority ethnic communities cited the Citizens Advice Bureau as their first port of call when seeking advice on discrimination than any other agency (Commission for Racial Equality survey, 1999), and in 2001/2 Citizens Advice nationally ran a major anti-racism campaign.

Above all, it's a chance to make a real difference. By volunteering for the Citizens Advice you will be playing an active part in improving thelives of millions of people and influencing the development of national and local policies and services.

And you will not be out of pocket. We will cover any travel costs incurred by volunteering.

Is it time you gave yourself a new challenge?

We hope that what you have read will have answered some of your questions and that you are still interested in joining us! If you are...

• Please telephone us on 01453 758252 or call in at one of our offices. (Please note that advice is not available on this line.) We would be happy to answer any questions, and/or arrange for an informal visit to arrange for a chat and tell you more about volunteering opportunities. We are looking to recruit about a dozen volunteer advisors each year. We also typically recruit a few adminstrators, trustee board members, and others each year as vacancies arise. Help with fund raising and IT would also be most welcome.
• You should then fill in the application form and send it to the bureau.
• We will acknowledge your application. The next stage will be an interview, which gives both you and us an opporunity to explore how you might contribute to the bureau. If you are successful, you will receive an induction at the bureau.

Thank you for your interest in volunteering. The Citizens Advice Bureau is committed to equal opportunities for everyone. We actively welcome volunteers of all ages and from a wide range of different backgrounds.

Being an advisor is a very varied role. As an advisor, you will:

• Interview clients at drop-in sessions and appointments in the bureau and over the telephone;
• Give information from our electronic information system and other sources;
• Give advice in explaining the choices and consequences the client faces;
• Give practical help by writing letters, making phonecalls, completing forms, doing calculations and may represent clients at tribunals;
• Refer clients to other agencies if they are better placed to help;
• Keep records of all clients' cases;
• Prevent future problems by identifying issues that affect a lot of clients.

You do not need any particular qualifications or experience to train as an advisor. All sorts of people are advisors. You need to:

• Be good at listening;
• Be able to work in a team;
• Be able to read and write English, and do basic maths;
• Be open-minded and non-judgemental;
• Enhjoy helping people.

Advisors don't need to know it all! We provide all trainee advisors with a comprehensive accredited training programme that will give you the skills you need to deliver a high quality service to clients. Our up to the minute electronic information system contains most of the information you need when advising clients.

You will not be left alone after being trained. There will always be a more experienced advisor available, who can give you support, advice and guidance. All advisors are insured in case mistakes are made.

Once you have qualified as a Generalist Advisor, you will have the opportunity to develop further skills and increase the depth and breadth of your knowledge.

Administrators ensure that the bureau systems run smoothly. Good support is essential for the running of any organisation, and the Citizens Advice Bureau is no different. There are many different administrative roles - we can match your skills and time available to the bureau's needs. Tasks may include:

• Using spreadsheets, databases, and word processing packages;
• Maintaining and developing administrative systems;
• Stock control of leaflets and materials and updating information;
• Helping to arrange events;
• Receiving and sending faxes, mail, and telephone calls;
• Taking notes and minutes at meetings.

The bureau's service is increasingly taking advantage of developments in IT. As an IT support volunteer, you may be involved in a variety of areas depending on your skills and the time you have available, for example:

• Supporting and training users in day-to-day use of IT systems;
• Troubleshooting hardware and software problems;
• Maintaining and developing our network and internet links;
• Designing and updating spreadsheets, databases, and our website.

The bureau is an independent charity and a company, and is governed by a Board of Trustees. The trustees are ultimately responsible for the quality and range of the service. Day to day control is delegated to the bureau manager, but trustees:

• Set the overall direction and support the development of the bureau;
• Ensure the bureau meets the needs of the local community and the Citizens Advice membership standards;
• Employ bureau staff and control bureau finances;
• Earn and retain the respect of important and influential people and organisations in the community, including funding bodies;
• Ensure the bureau complies with relevant laws.

The Trustee Board needs people from all sections of the community with a wide range of skills, experience and perspectives. The Trustee Board meets in the evenings, making this a flexible role, which trustees often fit around a full-time job.