The Voluntary Services department exists to organise and co-ordinate the activities of members of the public who wish to give their time, free of charge, in support of the East End Citizens Advice activities. Our aim is to improve the quality of Our services and to complement the work of paid staff. Volunteering for the CAB is a rewarding and fulfilling experience. There are a number of different volunteering roles available within East End CAB:

• Trainee Adviser
• Gateway Assessor
• Receiptionist
• Trustee
• Social Policy
• Admin
• Fundraising and Publicity
• IT Support

Volunteering Application Form

Volunteers help in various ways to provide a wide range of extra services, which improve the quality of service we offer to the general public, for example:

Traineer Adviser

The Trainee Adviser interviews clients about their problems in the main enquiry areas of Debt, Welfare Benefits, Housing, Employment, Immigration, Consumer, Family & Personal, exploring the problem, establishing what the client wants, exploring options and implications in order that the client can come to a decision and helping the client to set priorities. The Trainee Adviser acts on behalf of the client where necessary, negotiating with third parties on the telephone, drafting and writing letters. The Trainee Adviser then writes up a record of the interview using the case recording IT system. The Trainee Adviser also identifies socia l policy issues, for the purpose of local and national social policy campaigns, and keeps up to date with legislation on the main enquiry areas of Debt, Welfare Benefits, Housing, Employment, Immigration, Consumer, Family & Personal. Full training and supervision is provided. Training to complete the nationally recognised CAB Generalist Adviser Certificate programme comprises of written work, research, group work, observations and interviewing practice. You need to be non-judgemental, enthusiastic and good at listening. Minimum 2 full days per week based in Newham, Dalston, Whitechapel, or Mare Street in Hackney.

Gateway Assessor

The Gateway Assessor carries out initial assessments with clients when they first approach the bureau, identifying next steps, emergencies and deadlines with the support of the Advice Session Supervisor. The Gateway Assessor assesses clients’ problems using sensitive listening and questioning skills, identifies key information and the essence of the problem, establishes what the client wants, and then agrees the appropriate level of service, according to the client’s ability, the complexity of the problem and bureau resources. The Gateway Assessor then writes up a record of the interview using the case recording IT system. The Gateway Assessor also identifies social policy issues, for the purpose of local and national social policy campaigns, and keeps up to date with legislation on the main enquiry areas of Debt, Welfare Benefits, Housing, Employment, Immigration, Consumer, Family & Personal. Full training and supervision is provided following the nationally recognised CAB Gateway Assessor training programme.

Receptionist

We wish to recruit Reception workers to be the public face of our offices in Whitechapel, Mare Street and Dalston. You will welcome clients into the bureau, organize our ticketing system whereby people will be seen by an assessor. You will answer and transfer calls to advisers within our offices and you will replenish leaflets and forms and help clients access other advice services in their local area. If you would like to gain experience in working directly with the public, then this is a great opportunity to learn customer service skills. Minimum 1 day per week based at Whitechapel, Mare St, or Dalston.

Trustee

As a Trustee, you will set the overall direction and support the development of the bureau. You will be setting the strategy and policies of the bureau, and ensuring bureau participation in Citizens Advice policy making through the democratic process. You will also need to ensure that the service meets Citizens Advice standards and that the needs of the local community are being adequately met. You will be in a position to hire bureau staff and control bureau finances. You need to have a range of transferable skills that you feel you can bring to the bureau.

Social Policy

Social Policy Co-ordinators use evidence collected from bureau to influence change on a local and national level. This role will see you as a voice for clients, preparing social policy evidence forms to send to the Central office from the information provided by advisers. You will also be writing to local MPs and various organisations. This role requires enthusiasm, patience and the ability to communicate at all levels. Volunteering for at least one day per week is required.

Admin

As an Administrator, your role would be to ensure that the bureau runs smoothly. This will be a varied role which will see you take on a number of different tasks. Administrators are fully involved in client services through activities such as word processing and inputting statistics. You will need basic IT competence but there are opportunities to develop your computer skills and to gain a wide range of office experience. Volunteering for at least one day per week is required.

Publicity and Fundraising

The Publicity side of the role is to publicise the work of the CAB. Your role may include developing current publicity materials and maintaining links with local communities, media, MPs. You will be based in one of our offices in Mare Street, Tower Hamlets or Newham. You will need to write stories based on news and events at the different bureaus. You will be updating content for the website. You need to be an excellent verbal and written communicator. The fundraising side of the role will involve getting donations and increase funding for the bureau. East End Cab is a registered charity which relies on funding. This will involve sending appeals for donations to potential donors.

IT Support

IT support is needed to ensure that our IT network runs efficiently and effectively. Volunteers will need to provide basic front line IT support to users. You will need good customer service skills and basic IT skills, and the ability communicate effectively. You will have the ability to solve hardware and software faults and to install and configure PCs and associated periphery.

Full training is given and volunteers are supported in their roles. Providing you are reliable, willing and interested regardless of your background there is likely to be a role for you.

For more information about volunteering in the CAB service please send an email to Pfortt@eastendcab.org.uk.

To download an application form please click on the link below.
Volunteering Application Form

***Volunteer or gain work experience with us