Volunteer with us at Citizens Advice Wokingham

You can volunteer from the comfort of your own home, at our Woodley or Wokingham Town Centre offices or on our Mobile Advice Unit. 

Our roles are flexible, the difference we make helps people move forward with their lives, and we cannot do it without you.

 

PLEASE NOTE THAT RECRUITMENT TO BE A TRAINEE ASSESSOR IS NOW OPEN UNTIL MARCH 22nd 2024. WEEKLY TRAINING SESSIONS WILL START APRIL 16TH

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ALSO LOOK AT OUR OTHER ROLES AVAILABLE

Make a difference in our community

Citizens Advice Wokingham is a charity, and ever since June 1977 when we were first set up – the dedication and support from volunteers – people just like you, has kept us going.

73
active volunteers in our team
137
people helped on average per volunteer every year
8 th
highest telephone answer rate of all Citizens Advice services in 2022

Register your interest or apply here

We're looking for volunteer Trainee Assesors to join the team - please consider joining.

Become a Volunteer Trainee Assessor leading onto Adviser

Are you looking to make a difference in your community and gain valuable skills? Join our team of volunteers as a Trainee Assesor and help individuals who are facing the cost of living crisis and other challenges in life.

Our organisation was able to assist, clients Just like Sandra (name changed), a client who reached out to our One Front Door advice line for help accessing the food bank and assistance with money issues. Our volunteer, Andy, was able to provide a referral to the food bank and explore an essential items grant from a local funder to replace her broken washing machine. Additionally, an appointment was made with one of our experienced advisers to conduct an income and expenditure check and find appropriate debt solutions to meet her circumstances.

As a Trainee assessor, you will be fully supported throughout your journey with us by our Volunteers Training Manager. You will follow the Adviser Learning Plan, starting with an induction and an 8 week core training programme (half a day a week training and half a day delivery). As part of this you will answer phone calls from clients and triage their issues with the support of our Supervisors who are available every day we’re open. You will continue to learn and gain more knowledge by working with clients and shadowing our experienced team. You will eventually be able to deal with more issues independently, by doing benefit applications or debt exploration yourself, with the guidance of our supervisor and expert advice team. You will also be allocated a mentor, receive a daily briefing and have regular access to a supportive team. Our Volunteers Training Manager will also conduct 1-to-1 check-ins with you to monitor your progress.

Our core areas of help include benefits, debt, housing, employment and relationships & family. You will learn more about these areas and have access to information and tools on each of these topics when you join us. With more demand than ever before, your help is needed now more than ever.

If you are interested in becoming a Trainee Assessor, fill in the expression of interest above, or email volunteer@cawokingham.org.uk and we can arrange a chat to see if volunteering with us is right for you and answer any questions you may have.

Why volunteer with us?

If you’d like to make a difference in your community we’d love to hear from you.

Our volunteers range from supporting our work for a few months whilst they look for employment, through to longer-term. However long you’re with us, we want you to enjoy your experience, supported by our friendly and knowledgeable team.

We are the go-to advice and information provider in Wokingham Borough, helping people find a way forward with their problems. Since the start of the COVID pandemic we’ve helped around 1 in 10 households in Wokingham in some way or other, through their issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

Well, that’s ok – we’d still be happy to hear from you! We’re looking for people from all walks of live, reflecting the diversity of our communities, to be a part of our team. 

Upon joining, all colleagues receive a full induction to the charity – and our Volunteers & Training manager will then support you through a training pathway based on your desired role and needs. Most training is online so as long as you’re confident with using the internet, we can help you to train up.

There is a myth that you have to be trained in law/be a solicitor to volunteer for Citizens Advice and that’s not the case!

Many people first join Citizens Advice Wokingham as an Initial Checker – answering incoming calls and helping to unpack the situation – before exploring next options, or as an admin support. After a few months in this role, our Volunteers & Training manager and supervisors are always happy to explore what else you would like to do. 

Many people first join Citizens Advice Wokingham as an assessor – answering incoming calls and helping to unpack the situation – before exploring next options, or as an admin support. After a few months in this role, our Volunteers & Training manager and supervisors are always happy to explore what else you would like to do. 

Many people first join Citizens Advice Wokingham as an Initial Checker – answering incoming calls and helping to unpack the situation – before exploring next options, or as an admin support. After a few months in this role, our Volunteers & Training manager and supervisors are always happy to explore what else you would like to do. 

We’re looking for people who are happy with engaging with others, when providing our advice, information and support roles. We’ll support you to ask the right questions when triaging a case, to unpack what’s going on, and explore some options to move forward through other parts of the service or our borough.

Each day that our service operates (Monday to Friday) one of our supervisors leads an online video conference call where our colleagues dip-in and dip-out throughout the day to check-in for support. Some colleagues also choose to base themselves at our Woodley or Wokingham office, or out as a team on our Mobile Advice Unit – it all depends on your preference.

We ask for a day a week, for at least 12 months, which can be split over two half-days if that suits you. You can liaise with our Volunteers & Training manager on this when you enquire.

Volunteer Information Pack

Here are the roles we're looking for people to support with

Trainee Assessors leading onto Adviser

Research & Campaigns

Admin Support

Social Media

IT Support Volunteer

Trustee

Next steps

We hope that you’ve found enough information to feel you can make a decision, but if you’re still not sure – email us via volunteer@cawokingham.org.uk and we can arrange a one-to-one chat . 

If you’re interested in taking this forward, please fill in the application form below or email us to get the ball rolling.

Register your interest or apply here

We're looking for Trainee volunteer Assessors leading on to Adviser to join the team - please consider joining.