Citizens Advice gives independent, impartial, free and confidential information and advice to help people overcome the problems they face, such as benefits, debt, employment, housing, relationships and immigration.

We use our knowledge about our clients’ problems to identify trends and campaign to improve the policies and practices that affect people’s lives.

At Citizens Advice Cheshire West we also have specialist services such as pension advice, debt and welfare rights advice.

The Citizens Advice service has 21,300 trained volunteers and 7,000 paid staff in around 280 local Citizens Advice across England and Wales who provide an advice service to over 2.6 million people a year in over 2,500 locations in a range of ways including face to face, over the phone, by email and web-chat.

Our volunteers come from a range of backgrounds and communities and volunteer with us for a range reasons, including to:

• make a positive impact on peoples’ lives
• gain new skills and knowledge and build experience for employment
• use and develop existing skills in varied and rewarding roles
• improve health, wellbeing, confidence and self-esteem
• meet new people from a range of backgrounds and ages, and make friends
• get to know the local community and give something back
• experience good training and support and to feel part of a team

We reimburse travel expenses so you won’t be out of pocket from volunteering.

As a volunteer at Citizens Advice Cheshire West you don’t need any specific qualifications or experience.

You’ll need to be friendly and approachable and have a respect for views, values and cultures that are different to your own.

You will need to have basic IT skills and be a good listener.

As a volunteer you’ll receive an introduction to the service and training for your role, as well as support and supervision from our supervisors during your time volunteering with us.

Our service is available in the day time (Mon – Fri, 10 am – 4 pm)

Read through our volunteer roles and decide which one(s) you’re interested in.

Complete a short application form.

We’ll invite you for an informal interview to discuss the role.

This is nothing to worry about, it’s a chance for you to find out more about the role, and Citizens Advice Cheshire West and decide if you’d like to volunteer with us.

It’s also a chance for us to find out more about you and to see if the role you’re interested in is a good fit for you.

Contact recruitment@citizensadvicecw.org.uk for an application form.

Citizens Advice believes that the skills, experience and satisfaction that come from volunteering should be available to everyone.

We have a diverse workforce and we actively encourage applications for volunteer roles from all parts of the community, including Black Asian Minority Ethnic (BAME) volunteers, disabled volunteers, volunteers with physical and mental health conditions, LGBT+ and non-binary volunteers.

Citizens Advice has 4 network groups: 1) BAME, 2) Disability, 3) Lesbian Gay and Bisexual, and 4) Trans & Non-Binary, who raise awareness and promote inclusivity within Citizens Advice. The network groups also provide an opportunity to talk and support each other in a confidential environment.

We encourage inclusive volunteering by focusing on matching volunteer roles available with your qualities, skills and interests. We challenge discrimination, promote equality and value diversity.

For more information see our What you can expect from Citizens Advice.

We want to make sure that you don’t feel that your health condition or impairment is a barrier to volunteering with us.

We actively welcome disabled volunteers and volunteers with long term health conditions, including mental health conditions.

Talk to us at any stage of the recruitment process about what support or equipment would enable you to volunteer with us, including physical requirements, time commitment or role flexibility.

Visit the national Citizens Advice website to find out about the experiences of some our disabled volunteers

Our volunteer advisers talk to clients over the phone, face to face and online to explore what problems they’ve come for help with and research information about possible options. Advisers then help clients to understand the information, and support them to take action.

Some examples of what you could do:

• help a client with debts work out a reasonable amount to pay back, and make a phone call to an organisation they owe money to.
• explore what benefits a client is entitled to and help them to complete a benefit application form.

Time commitment: 8 hours per week spread over one or two days, for 12 months. We can be flexible so come and talk to us.

Citizens Advice have a policy to ensure that people with convictions and criminal records are treated fairly.

Having a criminal record is not in itself a barrier, and we will only take relevant convictions or sexual offences into account. We consider each offence individually, looking at issues like risk to the client, how long ago it took place, the circumstances and whether they are relevant to the volunteer role. Some roles may require DBS checks.

Anyone with a caution or conviction for a sexual offence against a child or vulnerable adult is considered unsuitable to volunteer.

We will ask about unspent convictions as part of the application process. If you’re concerned or would like to discuss your individual circumstances further, please contact Nicki Berg (nicola.berg@citizensadvicecw.org.uk)

Expenses are paid for volunteers travel to and from Citizens Advice Cheshire West on the day the volunteering takes place, and for any training courses. This includes parking.

So volunteering with us will not leave you out of pocket.

Only actual out-of-pocket expenses will be reimbursed.

Talk to us if you have any questions about expenses.

Volunteers who receive benefits, including means-tested benefits, are allowed to volunteer.

You may need to notify the provider of the benefit (e.g. Jobcentre Plus or HMRC) about volunteering.

You will need to continue to meet the conditions of your benefits claim.

There is more detailed information about specific benefits on the national Citizens Advice website in the Frequently Asked Questions section.