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Volunteer

We are always looking for help:

  • Volunteer advisers
  • Volunteer administrative/support workers
  • Volunteer receptionists
  • Trustee board members.

All our trainees are highly valued.

We:

  • Provide training and support
  • Pay travel and parking expenses
  • Arrange 'get together' events, 2 to 3 times a year
  • Work as a team to ensure a good quality, professional service.

If you think you'd like to help, write to: The Manager, Epsom and Ewell CAB, The Old Town Hall, The Parade, Epsom KT18 5AG. We will invite you to attend our next get-together for new volunteers where we discuss what we do and the kind of help we are looking for. If you think volunteering is right for you, the next step will be a formal application process, but we'll explain more when we meet.

In accordance with Citizens Advice national policy we will ask successful candidates to be screened by the Criminal Records Bureau. However a criminal record will not necessarily be a bar to your being able to take up the voluntary post.

What being a volunteer adviser entails

Main duties and responsibilities may include:

  • Interviewing clients, both face-to-face and on the telephone, letting the client explain their enquiry and helping the client to set priorities
  • Finding, interpreting and communicating the relevant information and exploring options and implications to enable the client to come to a decision
  • Acting, where necessary, on behalf of the client, negotiating drafting or writing letters or making appropriate referrals
  • Completing clear and accurate case records
  • Recognising the root causes of problems and participating in taking appropriate action
  • Keeping up to date on important issues by attending the appropriate training and essential reading
  • Attending bureau meetings.

Personal skills and qualities that an adviser needs:

  • A commitment to the aims and principles of the CAB service
  • Excellent communication skills
  • To be open and approachable
  • To be able to communicate clearly both orally and in writing
  • To be able to sift through information and extract that which is relevant
  • Basic mathematical skills, including percentages
  • Respect for views, values and cultures which are different to their own
  • To understand why confidentiality is important
  • Open to using computers on a regular basis
  • A positive attitude to self-development and assessment
  • To be able to work as part of a team
  • Able to recognise their own limits and boundaries in the role.

Volunteer administrative/support workers

There are a number of roles carried out by the Administrative/Support Workers in the bureau. The hours that volunteers can offer to help vary, from some able to give 2 hours of their time on a regular basis, to others who regularly provide more than 10 hours.

All volunteers are offered training and induction for their role and adhere to the Citizens Advice confidentiality policy.

The administrative support role includes:

  • Preparing documents from handwritten notes on a computer using Word
  • Assisting the Manager with Petty Cash, using Excel spreadsheet
  • Processing Advisers’ expenses claim forms
  • Stock control and ordering of general stationery and other supplies for the office
  • Filing and other clerical tasks, as and when required.

The support worker role includes:

  • Ensuring stocks of standard forms are available for advisers
  • Shredding of confidential documents
  • Assisting session supervisors with reception of clients
  • Working with the Local Information System Coordinator, checking and updating the system
  • Checking and ordering information leaflets and reference books.

The Receptionist:

The receptionist works with the Session Superviser/Duty Manager to:

  • Welcome clients to the bureau
  • Inform clients of waiting times
  • Inform advisers that there are clients waiting

This role also includes: keeping the waiting room tidy; and answering the telephone.

Confidentiality within the reception area, as elsewhere, is essential. Client matters are not discussed in the waiting room and it is not the receptionist’s role to assist clients with their enquiries.

Social policy worker role includes:

  • Preparing Social Policy Evidence forms to send to the National Association, from information provided by advisers
  • Writing to the local MP and various organisations
  • Investigating, analysing and presenting social policy data on specific areas of concern
  • Attending Social Policy meetings and conferences occasionally.

The Information Technology coordinator:

The IT Coordinator works with a small team of management staff and volunteers from a variety of roles to ensure that the system runs efficiently and effectively.

Trustee board member

The purpose of the Trustee Board is to maintain and develop the Epsom & Ewell CAB service in order to meet the needs of the local community.

Members of the Trustee Board are responsible to the Charity Commission, funders and donors, and the local community. Their main are duties:

  • Setting the strategy and policies of the bureau, and ensuring bureau participation in Citizens Advice policy making through the democratic process
  • Ensuring that the service meets Citizens Advice standards and that the needs of the local community are being adequately met
  • Monitoring the financial position of the bureau and ensuring that it operates within its means
  • Supporting the development of the bureau through participation in agreed projects
  • Actively seeking to further the strategic objectives of the bureau
  • Undertaking all necessary employment functions relating to staff members and ensuring that bureau training and development policy is adequate to meet the needs of staff.

The above is a brief outline of membership of the Trustee Board. Full details of the role can be obtained by contacting the Manager at the bureau.