County Durham Volunteering

We are a volunteer led organisation – meaning that most of the people we have working for us are volunteers. Without them we would not be here!

We provide a service to the people of County Durham to provide free, impartial, independent and confidential advice to help them with their problems and to improve policies and practices that affect people’s lives. We help people overcome their problems and campaign on big issues when their voices need to be heard.

volunteer@citizensadvicecd.org.uk 0191 933 1661 https://www.citizensadvicecd.org.uk/

Recognition of Quality Volunteer Experience

Active opportunities

Community Champion - Volunteer Adviser

Weardale Spennymoor Seaham Teesdale Durham City

View this opportunity

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          name:  'Citizens  Advice  County  Durham',
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          contactPerson:  'Amanda  Darvill  ',
          website:  'https://www.citizensadvicecd.org.uk/',
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            'We  are  a  volunteer  led  organisation  –  meaning  that  most  of  the  people  we  have  working  for  us  are  volunteers.  Without  them  we  would  not  be  here!  \n\nWe  provide  a  service  to  the  people  of  County  Durham  to  provide  free,  impartial,  independent  and  confidential  advice  to  help  them  with  their  problems  and  to  improve  policies  and  practices  that  affect  people’s  lives.  We  help  people  overcome  their  problems  and  campaign  on  big  issues  when  their  voices  need  to  be  heard.    \n',
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                    name:  'Community  Champion  -  Volunteer  Adviser',
                    shortDescription:
                      'If  you’re  eager  to  make  a  significant  impact  on  people’s  lives  by  helping  them  navigate  their  challenges,  this  role  is  perfect  for  you.\nAs  a  Generalist  Adviser,  you’ll  volunteer  at  the  core  of  our  service.  Your  responsibilities  will  include  interviewing  clients,  face  to  face  and  over  the  phone,  to  understand  their  needs  and  gather  details  about  their  circumstances.  Using  our  comprehensive  information  system,  you’ll  identify  the  best  solutions  for  each  client.  Together  with  the  client,  you’ll  then  agree  on  the  next  steps  to  help  them  resolve  their  issues.',
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                              name:  'Weardale'  },
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                              name:  'Spennymoor'  },
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                              name:  'Teesdale'  },
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                    contactEmail:  'volunteer@citizensadvicecd.org.uk',
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                    address:  '71  High  Street,  Spennymoor  DL16  6BB',
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                    websiteLink:  'https://www.citizensadvicecd.org.uk/volunteer/',
                    whatYouWillBeDoing:
                      'Conducting  interviews  with  clients,  both  in  person  and  over  the  phone,  allowing  them  to  articulate  their  enquiries  while    helping  them  prioritise  their  needs).\nLocating,  interpreting,  and  clarifying  relevant  information,  as  well  as  exploring  options  and  implications  to  enable  clients  to  make  informed  decisions.\nAiding  clients  with  filling  out  forms,  submitting  benefits  claims,  and  preparing  for  assessments  related  to  their  claims.\nEnsuring  that  case  records  are  completed  clearly  and  accurately.\nIdentifying,  reporting,  and  providing  evidence  for  issues  relevant  to  research  and  campaigns.\nStaying  informed  about  significant  issues  by  participating  in  relevant  training  and  engaging  in  essential  reading.\nUpholding  client  confidentiality  and  adhering  to  the  Confidentiality  Policy  and  General  Data  Protection  Regulations  (GDPR).',
                    skillsExperienceAndQualitiesNeeded:
                      'Non-judgmental  attitude\nFriendly  and  approachable  demeanour\nCapacity  to  gather  pertinent  information  with  empathy  through  active  listening  and  various  questioning  techniques\nProficient  written  communication  skills\nAbility  to  swiftly  extract  relevant  details  from  documents\nExperience  in  conducting  research  using  web-based  systems  and  word  processing  software\nDedication  to  the  Aims  and  Principles  of  the  Citizens  Advice  service,  including  its  Equality  and  Diversity  Policies.',
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                      'No  prior  advisory  experience  is  required,  as  we  provide  thorough  training.    However,  some  familiarity  with  IT  is  necessary  since  much  of  the  training  is  conducted  online,  including  e-learning  modules,  video  calls,  and  virtual  workshops.  IT  skills  will  also  be  applied  in  the  role  for  online  research  on  our  information  system,  case  documentation,  and  written  communications.\n\nThe  adviser  training  program  is  comprehensive,  and  rightly  so.  You  will  need  to  deliver  high-quality  advice  across  a  variety  of  enquiry  areas.  It  is  crucial  that  we  provide  accurate  information  to  our  clients  while  ensuring  it  is  documented  correctly.  We  recognise  the  challenges  this  presents  and  are  committed  to  supporting  you  throughout  your  training  journey  and  beyond.\n\nYour  learning  will  include  extensive  online  modules  through  our  national  Citizens  Advice  learning  platform,  alongside  hands-on  observation  and  participation  in  our  office  activities.  Additionally,  you  will  join  various  training  events,  both  virtual  and  in-person;  and  as  you  advance,  you  will  receive  guidance  from  supervisors  and  encouragement  from  your  colleagues.\n\nOur  advisers  play  a  vital  role  in  supporting  our  communities,  and  you  can  volunteer  at  various  offices  throughout  County  Durham.  We  reimburse  agreed-upon  travel  expenses  for  your  trips  between  your  home  and  your  local  office  or  training  locations.',
                    whenAndWhere:
                      'Spennymoor,  Seaham,  Durham  City,  Barnard  Castle  and  Middleton-in-Teesdale\nAt  least  one  day  per  week,  for  at  least  one  year',
                    otherInfo:
                      'All  our  Volunteer  Generalist  Advisers  dedicate  a  minimum  one  day  per  week  for  at  least  one  year.  Typically,  it  takes  between  12  and  18  months  to  become  a  fully  qualified  adviser,  though  you  may  begin  working  with  clients  with  our  support  after  3-6  months,  depending  on  your  progress  and  how  much  time  you  can  dedicate  to  your  learning.   Once  you  are  ready  to  work  solo,  you’ll  gain  experience  with  a  variety  of  clients  and  different  enquiry  areas.  Additionally,  you’ll  focus  on  achieving  the  necessary  standards  for  case  recording  during  our  quality  assessments.  Volunteering  as  an  adviser  for  Citizens  Advice  requires  a  significant  commitment,  but  we  also  invest  considerable  resources  in  your  development.',
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                    volunteerBenefits:
                      'Joining  us  as  a  volunteer  is  a  fantastic  opportunity  to  leverage  your  skills  and  experience  to  assist  others.  Each  day  brings  new  learning  experiences,  the  chance  to  forge  friendships,  and  the  opportunity  to  be  part  of  a  fantastic  team.  While  it  can  be  challenging  at  times,  volunteering  is  also  incredibly  enjoyable  and  immensely  rewarding.  Some  of  our  volunteers  have  been  with  us  for  just  a  few  weeks,  while  others  have  dedicated  over  20  years.\n\nWe’re  a  compassionate  team  of  volunteers  and  employees,  dedicated  to  providing  invaluable  services  to  those  who  rely  on  us  most.    See  more  at  What  we  do  and  About  us  or  watch  this  helpful  short  video  here\n\nWe  are  a  friendly  and  inclusive  organisation,  dedicated  to  fostering  an  environment  where  everyone  feels  valued,  appreciated,  and  part  of  a  cohesive  team.  Our  commitment  to  equality  and  diversity  drives  us  to  provide  a  variety  of  opportunities  for  individuals  of  all  ages  and  backgrounds.  We  aim  to  offer  challenging  and  rewarding  roles  that  align  with  their  availability,  objectives,  ambitions,  and  passions,  by  providing  necessary  training  and  development  as  well  as  continuously  offering  support  and  supervision.\n\nWe  promote  good  mental  health  and  have  bronze  status  in  The  Better  Health  at  Work  Awards  which  recognises  the  efforts  of  employers  in  addressing  health  issues  within  the  workplace.\n\nOur  volunteers  represent  a  diverse  range  of  backgrounds  and  are  motivated  to  contribute  for  various  reasons.  They  include  students,  individuals  re-entering  the  workforce  after  career  breaks,  those  with  part-time  jobs,  caregivers,  and  retirees.\n\nThere  are  many  benefits  to  volunteering  for  us.    Here  are  a  few  examples;\n\ndevelop  or  learn  a  new  skill,  broaden  knowledge  or  utilise  experience,\ngain  confidence  and  self-esteem\nimprove  employability.  Volunteering  for  us  provides  skills  and  experience  that  is  valued  by  many  employers.    Some  of  our  staff  started  as  volunteers  including  some  of  our  managers.\nthe  reward  from  being  able  to  help  people,\nget  to  know  or  to  give  something  back  to  the  community,\ntry  something  different,\nmeet  new  people  and  make  friends  whilst  helping  us  deliver  our  critical  services,\na  chance  to  socialise.',
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