Could you support Cambridge CAB through volunteering?

Why volunteer for CAB?

Volunteering with us is a great way to pick up skills, explore career options and make new friends. It can help you to gain confidence and get to know your community. It is also a good way to re-enter the workplace after a period of absence or a way to keep your mind active in retirement. All of our volunteers are offered full support and training to find the right role for them.

Volunteers form an essential part of our charity and its role in the local area. Last year they contributed the equivalent of almost £500,000 in support of our work. But it’s not just worthwhile, volunteering can also be fantastic fun and hugely rewarding.

Volunteer Generalist Advisers

Volunteer Generalist Advisers provide information and advice to members of the public both face to face and on the phone, exploring options and implications so that clients can make a decision; act for the client where necessary; make sure accurate case records are kept; and participate in bureau meetings and training.

You could do this role if you are available to volunteer for a minimum of 7 hours a week for at least 12 months. Full training is given so no previous adviser experience is necessary. The training course usually takes place three times a year.

Follow the following links for further details:

• Generalist Adviser Role Description
• Advisers Training commitment

Volunteer Receptionists

We’re looking for reception volunteers, whose role is to welcome clients and oversee the waiting room. At the moment we particularly need reception volunteers who are available on a Wednesday.

Main responsibilities

Receptionists carry out the following main duties:

• Welcome clients and other visitors, and coordinate appointments
• Manage the waiting room area
• Answer the phone and transfer calls as appropriate
• Take records of the number of client visits and waiting times
• Accurately input client information into the database

Support and training will be provided.

Skills and qualities required

You don’t need specific qualifications or experience, but you do need to:

• Be friendly and approachable
• Be discreet and treat all exchanges with clients as confidential
• Be able to keep calm under pressure
• Have basic computer skills
• Be committed to the aims and principles of Citizens Advice

Volunteer Admin Support

Administrative support is essential to the smooth and efficient running of Cambridge Citizens Advice. Some of the tasks you may be asked to do are:

• Updating leaflets and local information resources
• Filing and archiving client paper records
• Scanning documents to clients' electronic records
• Receiving and sending faxes, mail, e-mail and telephone calls
• Writing letters
• Photocopying.

We are particularly keen to increase our numbers of administration volunteers in our Cambridge office. If you have administration experience and would be interested in volunteering in this location, please fill in our online form and we’ll contact you as soon as we can.

No qualifications needed

You don’t need specific qualifications or experience to become an administrator as full training and support will be given but it helps if you:

• Like working in a team
• Are open-minded and don’t judge people or their circumstances
• Are comfortable using a computer
• Have an eye for detail and like to be well organised
• Are able to commit to at least one session per week.

If you would like to apply for any of these roles or have any questions, please contact Sally Salisbury by phone on 01223 222685 or by email at sallys@cambridgecab.org.uk.