volunteer-roles

Two charities, one internship – Advice Support Volunteer

Louise Brown

What is the project?

This is a new way of volunteering. The project is called ‘Know your Neighbourhood’ and is a partnership between Citizens Advice Hull and East Riding and Age UK. We have joined together to share our knowledge and deliver the training for you to become an Advice Support Volunteer together.

Initial training

Volunteers are asked to join us, one day a week for 5 weeks for their initial training.   You will join the team at either Citizens Advice Hull and East Riding in their main Hull office, or Age UK, also based in Hull.

The internship takes place over 10-weeks at each charity, where you will continue to develop your skills and knowledge in a similar environment at each location.

Second placement

At the end of the second placement you will have the opportunity to choose where you would like to continue as a volunteer. Volunteers can train for other roles or continue as Advice Support Volunteers.

We will have volunteers joining the programme through to the end of Spring 2025. It will be fantastic to have volunteers that have been on the programme to help show teach people who are new to the role.

What is the role?

Advice Support volunteers will help client’s complete applications, initially this will be for benefits like carers allowance, or attendance allowance but with experience this can develop to other areas.  If the client’s claim is successful, the extra income they receive from the application could make a big difference to their lives.

Here are some of the benefits of taking part

You will:

  • Make a real difference to people’s lives
  • Gain in-depth knowledge about specific issues, such as benefits
  • Build on valuable skills such as communication, questioning and listening, interpreting information and summarising
  • Increase your employability
  • Work with a range of different people, independently and in a team.
  • Have a positive impact in your community
  • Come and be part of a new project,
  • Join in our group sessions, with people of similar motivations

And we will reimburse expenses too.

What skills do you need to have?

You don’t need specific qualifications or skills but you’ll need to:

  • be friendly and approachable
  • be non-judgmental and respect views, values and cultures that are different to your own
  • have good listening skills
  • have excellent verbal and written communication skills
  • have good maths and IT skills
  • be able to understand information and summarise it
  • be willing to learn about and follow the Citizens Advice aims, principles and policies, including confidentiality and data protection
  • be willing to undertake training in your role
When does it start?

We are now recruiting for our third cohort of volunteers. Training for this cohort will begin on Wednesday 17th July 2024. If you are unable to make this opportunity there will be another one later this year.

How to apply?

Applications for our third cohort are now open and will close on Monday 24th June 2024. You can apply for the role by completing this online application form – please state that you are interested in becoming an Advice Support Volunteer specifically. If you have any questions then you can contact our volunteer team on volunteering@hull-eastridingcab.org.uk or 01482 324655.

Recruitment process

We will ask all applicants to complete an application form. We will ask potential volunteers to attend an informal interview. This will be online. It is an opportunity for you to find out more about the opportunity and if it is right for you. It is also for us to find out more about you.

Training dates

Volunteers are required to attend all training dates. If you are unable to attend then you will not be able to take part in this cohort. You can still send an expression of interest for future cohorts or other volunteering opportunities. The training dates for the second cohort are as follows:

17/07/2024 – 10am – 4pm

23/07/2024 – 10am – 4pm

30/07/2024 – 10am – 4pm

06/08/2024 – 10am – 4pm

13/08/2024 – 10am – 4pm

Volunteering placements

After training, your volunteer placements will take place:

1st placement:  The week commencing 19 August 2024

2nd placement: The week commencing 28 October 2024

We are able to offer flexibility on the days volunteered each week and understand there may be weeks when volunteers have other commitments. Please feel free to ask us about any queries or concerns you may have.