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Volunteering as an Adviser  

Almost all clients approaching the Citizens Advice Bureau for help will initially be interviewed by a volunteer and the majority of clients who do require further detailed advice will receive that advice from a volunteer. The role of volunteer adviser can be extremely rewarding, although demanding and can sometimes be challenging, we do however provide excellent training and support.

The initial training to become an adviser takes around 5 months. During this initial training period you will need to be able to commit a day and a half each week. After this initial training period you would begin working with clients as a trainee adviser, the commitment required at this stage and thereafter is two half day sessions each week.  To complete the full training usually takes around 12 months.

No prior experience is needed and you do not need any particular kinds of qualifications. The training we provide is very comprehensive.  You do need a genuine interest in helping others, the time to be able to commit to the training and advice sessions, to be fluent in English and to have basic numeracy skills.  The training covers adviser skills including interview skills, case recording and research skills; we explore what it means to offer an accessible service to all clients and reflect on how our own attitudes impact on that.  The training also covers in some depth all of the key advice areas that we advise on including welfare benefits, debt, employment, housing, consumer, immigration, the legal framework and family & personal.

We aim to recruit volunteers from all sections of the Bristol community.  If you are looking for experience to help you get back into work, want to develop new activities in your retirement, want to have an outside activity that balances your caring responsibilities then this could be you.  We particularly welcome applicants from underrepresented sections of the community including those from a Black or minority ethnic background, from bilingual speakers of Polish, Somali or other community languages and from the lesbian and gay community.  If you are interested in volunteering and have access needs, please let us know.

Fully Trained Adviser  

If you have recently worked for another CAB and have completed your adviser training, we would like to hear from you.  Please email admin@bristolcab.org.uk

 

  We will be recruiting advice volunteers three times during 2013

Spring

Open Information Session - Wednesday 13 February 2pm

Interviews - during February and March

Course starts - May 2013

Summer

Open Information Session - Wednesday 4 September 2pm

Interviews - September

Course starts - Thursday 26 September and then will run weekly on a Thursday 10am to 4pm until March 2014

  There is no need to book a place at the information session, just turn up.  The session starts at 2pm and will last for about an hour.  Please come to our offices at 12 Broad Street, ring the bell and let reception staff  know that you are attending the information session.  The session will be held in our training room on the second floor.  If you have any specific access requirements please get in touch with us before the session and let us know.

 If you would like more information about training as an Adviser please contact Lilamayi at lilamayio@bristolcab.org.uk   or telephone 0117 946 2558.