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22-07-2008
If you’ve just broken up from school or university, are fed-up with the British weather and can’t afford to go abroad on holiday, why not do something different this summer…? Citizens Advice, the charity which helps people resolve their legal, money and other problems by providing free information and advice, are particularly interested in hearing from young people who could spare some time and volunteer for them.
Young people aged 16-25 can volunteer in Citizens Advice Bureaux in a wide variety of different roles that will develop their skills and fit in with their lifestyles. There will almost certainly be a Citizens Advice Bureau in or nearby your home town and most offer a number of exciting opportunities.
Some bureaux have vacancies for social policy coordinators or campaigners. In this role you would help bring about real change by using information about the problems that clients come in with to influence local and national policy makers.
Tasnoova Zaki, 21, from Enfield has just completed a law degree and is about to spend her summer volunteering with the social policy team at Citizens Advice head office in London, before starting her Masters in the autumn.
She says:
“My Mum used to be a volunteer at the Enfield bureau so I knew about the good work that the charity did. I’d heard about a new scheme encouraging young people to volunteer so I enquired. I’m really interested in access to legal justice so am going to be working on a project which looks at this as well as access to legal aid. It will help me learn more about how the legal system works and gain practical knowledge which I can incorporate into my Masters.”
You could also train as an advisor. All advisors receive the widely respected Citizens Advice Adviser qualification and training is also accredited by the Open College Network. Being an advisor is a great way to develop skills in communication, problem solving, research and team work. You could also obtain practical work experience for jobs in the legal sector.
Daniella Sinaguglia, 24, from Stoke-on-Trent has been training full time to be an advisor at the Stoke CAB since 14th April this year. Her training is almost complete.
She says:
”I have cerebral palsy and was put in touch with my local CAB through a project for disabled people that I’m involved with. Before my first meeting with the bureau I didn’t really know much about the Citizens Advice service, but I’ve learnt loads such as how to find out information in order to give people the right advice. I really enjoy helping people, and I’m hoping to stay on and work at the Stoke bureau as a volunteer advisor once I’m fully trained.”
Additionally bureaux are on the lookout for volunteers in a variety of different roles: to work as receptionists, to help out with marketing, finance and IT - right through to sitting on the trustee board.
The Citizens Advice service deals with thousands of enquiries each day from people who are keen to know their rights in a number of different areas, such as employment, housing and debt advice, and volunteers are at the heart of providing this service with over 20,000 volunteers helping out last year.
Volunteering with Citizens Advice is flexible and can be done on a part time or a full time basis dependent on your commitments. It’s also a great way to enhance your CV and will give you something interesting to talk about at job interviews!
If you think you’ve got what it takes and are interested in finding out more please call the volunteer hotline on: 08451 264264 (local rate) or pop into your local bureau.
Notes to editors:
- The Citizens Advice service is a network of independent charities that helps people resolve their money, legal and other problems by providing information and advice and by influencing policymakers. For more information in England and Wales see
 www.citizensadvice.org.uk
- The advice provided by the Citizens Advice service is free, independent, confidential, and impartial, and available to everyone regardless of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, age or nationality.
- Most Citizens Advice service staff are trained volunteers, working at over 3,300 locations across England and Wales.
- Advice and information www.adviceguide.org.uk
- Volunteer hotline 08451 264264 (local rate)
- Citizens Advice Guide to your rights, second edition: January 2008 - over 600 pages of practical, independent CAB advice. An invaluable resource for any bookshelf - available from all good bookshops; price £11.99; ISBN: 9780141034089
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