Volunteer With Us

Our Advisers provide confidential, impartial and free information and advice on a wide range of subjects including housing, employment, benefits and family. You will deal with and respond to client enquiries through face to face meetings, via email and over the telephone. You will research information to provide clients with options so that they can make effective decisions and, where necessary, act on behalf of the client.

Debt Assessors are crucial in the first stages of our debt advice process. You will gather and record information from clients who present with any kind of debt issue then provide information and signposting after discussing and determining their next steps, with support from the debt team. Assessments are done both face to face and over the telephone.

The receptionist is usually the first point of contact for anyone who walks through the door. This key role helps ensure the smooth running and organisation of the office. You must be welcoming as well as organised and able to deal with multiple demands. The role involves;

• Welcoming all clients and other visitors to Citizens Advice Luton
• Managing client expectations and providing clients with our client details form to complete
• Inputting information from the client form onto our database
• Checking people in for appointments and adding people to waiting lists
• Operating the reception area, liaising between clients and advisers
• Monitoring client numbers and waiting times
• Scanning documents

Citizens Advice Luton is a registered charity with a Board of Trustees who are responsible for deciding how the local Citizens Advice is run. This includes deciding how resources are used, making sure the charity is fulfilling its purpose and having all the relevant policies and procedures in place. As a trustee, you’ll have the chance to help lead an organisation that’s making a real difference to clients and local communities. Many trustees find it rewarding to give back to the community, putting their existing skills to use and learning new things from others.

Some of the Trustee roles require specific skills but we welcome people of all ages, backgrounds and experience who are representative of our local community. The Trustee Board meets in the evenings so this role could fit well with other full time employment or responsibilities. If you would like to play a central role in a well known and respected charity, this might be just what you’re looking for.

The Trustee Board:

• Manage and plan the overall strategic direction of Citizens Advice Luton
• Ensure that Citizens Advice Luton complies with the law
• Are responsible for the overall operation of Citizens Advice Luton.

You will need to:

• Maintain an awareness of how Citizens Advice Luton is operating
• Read papers and attend board meetings, taking an active role in discussions
• Visit the office on occasions to gain insight into how the office is running
• Work on specific projects with other trustees or staff within Citizens Advice Luton to further our strategic objectives
• Have good judgment and be able to work in a team

A sound support structure is essential for the running of any organisation. Administrators are key to enabling the advice centres to run smoothly and efficiently. There are various administrative roles, so we will try to match your skills and time to our service needs.

The administrator tasks include:

• Inputting information into computer spreadsheets and databases
• Making telephone calls and sending emails to gather feedback from clients
• Maintaining administrative systems
• Stock control of leaflets and materials and updating local information

By using evidence routinely collected from the clients, you could help bring about changes in local and national policies and services which can benefit everyone – even those who have never used a local Citizens Advice.

As part of the Research and Campaigns team you would:

• Complete and collate evidence forms recording client’s problems
• Identify and raise relevant issues in the bureau
• Train staff and volunteers in identifying issues and completing evidence forms
• Conduct research and write reports
• Get involved in media campaigning
• Liaise with other local Citizens Advice, organisations and agencies.

We recognise the value as well as the challenges of social media in raising awareness of our service and as a means of communicating information.

As a Social Media Champion you would be involved in developing our social media platforms and promoting our presence to reach a wide audience with relevant and engaging content.

While we have listed the main roles, if you have a particular interest or skill which you would like to offer, we will try to match you with a suitable opportunity. For example, fundraising experience or events organiser.