Lancaster Citizens Advice Bureau

Interested in Volunteering at Lancaster Citizens Advice Bureau?

Lancaster Citizens Advice Bureau recruits and trains volunteer advisers, casework support volunteers and social policy volunteers.

The role of adviser has the biggest commitment in terms of time, requiring a minimum of 8 hours each week. Advisers receive comprehensive initial training equivalent to NVQ 3. The training takes place mainly in the Bureau using modular assignments covering the aims and principles of the service, the legal framework, the advice model, attitudes and skills, the main enquiry areas and case recording. Trainee advisers have plenty of support and will have regular sessions with the Guidance Tutor to discuss progress. It usually takes several months to work through the first set of modules after which it is necessary to complete a four day course away from the Bureau – usually at Preston but sometimes Liverpool or Manchester.

Then, as a trainee adviser you would carry out your first interviews, under supervision, and complete the remaining training packs which give an in depth understanding of the main enquiry areas. This completes the basic training to become a generalist adviser.

Social policy volunteers are concerned more with the other aim of the service: “to improve the policies and practices that affect people’s lives”. Social policy workers use the evidence we get from clients experiences to identify local and national issues and campaign to bring about change. This can and does make a real and significant difference to social justice.

Essentially social policy workers analyse data and write reports, letters and press releases, and where appropriate lobby MP’s. The training for social policy work is less formal than for advisers and takes place within the Bureau. We ask for a commitment of 4 hours each week.

Casework support volunteers enable the specialist advisers and paid admin staff to achieve the requirements of the Legal Services Commission contract. Casework support volunteers have a fluid role – you could be typing letters, opening and organising files, making telephone calls to clients, making appointments, accompanying caseworkers on home visits, staffing reception. The training is all done in the Bureau and we ask for a commitment of 4 hours each week.

The Bureau holds volunteer open evenings throughout the year and recruit in April, June, September, November and January. All prospective volunteers are invited to an informal information session where they will have the opportunity to hear about Citizens Advice nationally and locally, to learn more about the volunteer roles available, to look at some of the training materials we use and to talk to staff and volunteers.  Formal interviews are arranged for all volunteers.