Volunteer Research & Campaigns Role

What will you do?

• Complete an introduction to Citizens Advice and training for your role.
• Identify common, or unfair, problems that clients come for help about.
• Help volunteers and staff in the local Citizens Advice understand the cause of the problem, how it affects clients, and what change would solve the problem (by talking to them or writing a summary).
• Help to organise a campaign with the aim of raising awareness of the problem. This might involve creating materials, such as newsletters, or presentations, or writing something for social media or newspaper, which could be used to explain the problems to others (such as local councillors, or members of the public).
• Help to organise a campaign with the aim of getting the organisation (person or elected body such as MP or local councillor) that is causing the problem, to change the way they do things. This could mean meeting with the organisation, person, or elected body, writing to them or holding an event.
• Help national Citizens Advice carry out research about how certain issues affect clients in your local area. This might involve doing a survey with clients to find out how a change in a benefit is affecting them.

 

What’s in it for you?

• Make a real difference to people’s lives.
• Learn about a range of areas such as benefits, employment, and housing, and how problems in these areas can affect clients.
• Build on valuable skills such as communication, listening and problem solving, and increase your employability.
• Work with a range of different people, independently and in a team.
• Have a positive impact in your community and on broader society.
• Meet new people and make new friends.

And we’ll reimburse expenses too.

 

Valuing inclusion

Our volunteers come from a range of backgrounds, and we particularly welcome applications from racially minoritised people/people of colour, disabled people, people with physical or mental health conditions, LGBTQ+ and non-binary people.

If you are interested in becoming an adviser and would like to discuss flexibility around location, time, ‘what you will do’ and how we can support you please contact us.

 

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 8 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.

More Information or Apply Online

Find out more about volunteering with us on our volunteering page or apply online.