Groundwork NE and Cumbria

Groundwork NE & Cumbria’s Advice and Guidance Service is a vital initiative aimed at supporting individuals across County Durham who are facing financial hardship, fuel poverty, and other challenges. Through this project, Groundwork offers tailored, one-to-one support to help people improve their quality of life, build resilience, and access the services they need.

By volunteering with Groundwork NE & Cumbria, you’ll be helping to create a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable future—while making a real difference in the lives of people who need it most.

Active opportunities

Benefits Support Volunteer

Newton Aycliffe   Stanley   Volunteering from Home  
View this opportunity

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          name:  'Groundwork  NE  and  Cumbria',
          email:  'GNEC.volunteers@groundwork.org.uk',
          type:  'Charity',
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          contactPerson:  'Robert  Young',
          website:
            'https://www.groundwork.org.uk/north-east-and-cumbria/get-support/advice-guidance-in-county-durham/',
          description:
            'Groundwork  NE  &  Cumbria’s  Advice  and  Guidance  Service  is  a  vital  initiative  aimed  at  supporting  individuals  across  County  Durham  who  are  facing  financial  hardship,  fuel  poverty,  and  other  challenges.  Through  this  project,  Groundwork  offers  tailored,  one-to-one  support  to  help  people  improve  their  quality  of  life,  build  resilience,  and  access  the  services  they  need.\n\nBy  volunteering  with  Groundwork  NE  &  Cumbria,  you’ll  be  helping  to  create  a  cleaner,  healthier,  and  more  sustainable  future—while  making  a  real  difference  in  the  lives  of  people  who  need  it  most.',
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                      'Many  people  struggle  to  navigate  the  complexities  of  welfare  benefit  applications.  As  a  result,  many  households  across  County  Durham  miss  out  on  the  financial  support  they  are  entitled  to.  In  this  role,  you  will  provide  essential  support  to  help  clients  understand  their  entitlement  to  key  benefits  and  to  maximise  their  income  by  completing  claims  accurately.    \n\nInitially,  it  is  intended  that  this  role  will  have  a  specific  focus  on  supporting  residents  to  understand  entitlement  to  and  complete  claims  for  disability-related  benefits.    ',
                    created:  2025-12-15T11:54:35.971Z,
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                              name:  'Newton  Aycliffe'  },
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                    contactPerson:  'Robert  Young',
                    contactEmail:  'gnec.volunteers@groundwork.org.uk',
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                    hours:  '4  –  8  hours  per  week',
                    websiteLink:
                      'https://www.groundwork.org.uk/north-east-and-cumbria/get-support/advice-guidance-in-county-durham/',
                    whatYouWillBeDoing:
                      '•  Supporting  residents  to  understand  the  eligibility  criteria  for  key  welfare  benefits,  tailoring  information  and  advice  to  their  personal  circumstances  and  situation  \n•  Providing  direct  assistance  to  navigate  and  complete  benefit  claims,  ensuring  information  is  captured  accurately  and  supportively  \n•  Maintaining  accurate  and  confidential  client  records    \n•  Attending  mandatory  initial  and  ongoing  training/supervision  sessions  and  team  meetings  to  stay  informed  on  current  benefits  legislation  and  develop  professional  skills.  \n•  Liaising with  supervisors  and  other  team  members  to  seek  support  or  make  appropriate  internal/external  referrals.  \n•  Assisting  with  the  delivery  of  in-person,  community-based  advice  sessions  (if  available)  ',
                    skillsExperienceAndQualitiesNeeded:
                      '•  Excellent  interpersonal  skills  \n•  A  non-judgmental  and  empathic  approach  \n•  Research  and  analytical  skills  to  interpret  complex  information  \n•  Strong  written  communication  skills  with  high  levels  of  attention  to  detail  and  accuracy  \n•  An  ability  to  work  as  part  of  a  wider  advice  service  team  \n•  Reliability,  commitment  and  an  ability  to  work  within  Groundwork  policies,  including  data  protection  and  confidentiality  ',
                    accessibilityAndTransport:  'Out-of-Pocket  travel  expenses  reimbursed.',
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                    whenAndWhere:
                      'The  project  is  based  in  Newton  Aycliffe,  County  Durham,  however,  the  above  role  is  expected  to  operate  remotely,  with  the  potential  of  in-person  support  in  community-based  locations.  \n\n4  –  8  hours  per  week',
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                    volunteerBenefits:
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