Volunteer with Citizens Advice South West Surrey

Citizens Advice is the largest advice provider in the UK and has around 20,000 volunteers. At Citizens Advice South West Surrey we have more than 140 volunteers, fully trained and highly skilled. They donate more than 60,000 hours of their time annually, estimated to be worth more than £1 million.

Their work is supported, monitored and quality assured by a small team of paid staff. There are many volunteer roles and you’re sure to find one that fits your skills, availability, experience and/or interests. By joining us you become part of highly respected advice network dedicated to working to improving the lives of people in our community. You can also volunteer to help our fundraising activity.

Receptionists – Locations Farnham, Godalming, Cranleigh, Guildford and Ash NEW VACANCIES

Our receptionists are the first point of contact for clients visiting our offices and are essential in making people feel welcome, explaining our services and providing information where possible. They manage the transition between a client arriving and being seen by an Adviser. A friendly, calm and approachable manner is essential. If you would like to volunteer in any one of our locations either for one day or more, we would love to hear from you.

Volunteer Assistant– Guildford (voluntary) NEW VACANCIES

Some examples of what a volunteer assistant will be doing is
● accompany an adviser when they are talking to clients and take notes
● help an adviser use a computer to find the information that they need to help a client with their problems
● type up a summary of the clients’ problems and what action the adviser has taken
● complete a benefits form, or draft a budget (income and spending), as directed by an adviser
● help volunteers with admin or reception tasks such as printing, scanning, filing, making appointments and being the first point of contact for clients

HERE are further details on the role and how to apply.

Advisers – Locations across the District (voluntary) NEW VACANCIES

Our Advisers provide confidential, impartial and free information and advice on a wide range of subjects including housing, employment law, debt management, benefits, consumer and family law. You will interview clients, both face to face on the telephone, research information to provide clients with options so that they can make effective decisions and, where necessary, act on behalf of the client. You will also take an active role influencing government and other organisations by informing them of the effect of their actions on the lives of clients. Opportunities exist across the District but we particularly looking for volunteers in Godalming, Guildford and Ash.

Advice Assistants – Locations across Guildford and Ash (voluntary) 

Advice Assistants work alongside advisers and help with more practical tasks, for example, completing forms which require factual information, such as blue badge applications or council tax support applications, following up on information the client has promised to send us, or phoning clients to check on outcomes.   

This role might suit those volunteers who would like to help clients directly but would prefer to focus on a set of clear tasks and not undertake full advice training.   We have these opportunities in Guildford and Ash.

Assessors – Locations across Guildford and Ash (voluntary) 

As an assessor, you will be the first point of contact for clients who approach us for help.  You will carry out an initial assessment with the client to identify the best way we can help them.  This could be by providing them with information, signposting or referring them to another organisation, or arranging an appointment for detailed advice. Examples of what you might do include: finding the information online that explains how to apply for Housing Benefit in a client’s local area and explaining it to them, identify what steps a client can take to resolve their problem with a second hand car, help a client find and understand what steps they can take to deal with their rent arrears. We have these opportunities in Guildford and Ash.  

Fundraising volunteers

As a Fundraiser you will be a crucial part of our team. There are so many ways you can make a difference:

  • Helping with research into fundraising opportunities.
  • Organising fund raising events.
  • Helping write grant applications.
  • Preparing presentations to potential funders.
  • Providing support to any fundraising group, such as local Friend’s organisations.

If you are interested in joining our Fundraising team, please email us for an application form and we’ll get in touch.

Community Engagement Partners – Locations across Waverley (voluntary x 6 posts) NEW VACANCY

We are looking for a number of volunteers to act and be key contributors in helping us to better understand the needs of our community so that we provide them with the right support. In the first instance, you will conduct intensive research to provide us with the data we need to provide meaningful methods of community engagement. You will then deliver a range of initiatives including the promotion of our services, providing training and education to clients and organizing community events. You do not need to be a qualified Adviser to carry out this role or have worked for Citizen’s Advice previously. You must, however, have a clean driver’s license and use of a car to fulfill this role. 

Join us as a Trustee and help us to support our community NEW VACANCY

Following the merger of two successful local Citizen Advice offices, we are seeking to recruit a number of Trustees to join the Trustee Board. This includes a Vice-Chair and other Trustees. The merger offers many exciting opportunities for growth and development and a strengthened, passionate and pragmatic Board is vital to ensuring that these opportunities are fulfilled. If you would like to find out more about the role please contact our Chair of Trustees at paul.jarrett@casws.org.uk for more details.

Treasurer to the Trustee Board  – for all locations NEW VACANCY

We are looking for a Treasurer who is a finance professional to join our Board to provide general financial direction to our charity and help us improve our long-term sustainability. Our Board meets 6 times a year, on Mondays and other meetings may take place during or out of office hours. Treasurer work may take up to 1-2 hours/wk. Please view the job description and contact the Chair of Trustees at paul.jarrett@casws.org.uk for more details.

If you are interested in volunteering in our Ash or Guildford office, or from home, please contact us at recruitment@casws.org.uk for an application pack in the first instance. 

If you are interested in volunteering in our Godalming, Farnham, Haslemere, Cranleigh offices or as a Community Engagement Officer, please contact us at volunteering@casws.org.uk for an application pack in the first instance.