Research and Campaigns Volunteer

Research and Campaigns Volunteer Position

Location: Citizens Advice Elmbridge West offices with hybrid work from home option

Hours: Approximately 3- 5 hrs/week. We can however be flexible about the time you volunteer so come and talk to us.

Citizens Advice is the largest advice provider in the UK. By joining us you become part of a highly respected advice network dedicated to working to improve the lives of people in our community.

We are looking for a passionate and energetic individual to join us as a Research and Campaigns Volunteer.

Our team is looking for someone to help drive forward our Research and Campaigns Strategy, support our Trustees, internal teams, and play a role in local, regional and national research and campaigning activities alongside our wider Citizens Advice colleagues.

Research and Campaigns at Citizens Advice

As a service, we hold a huge amount of insight and data about the problems our clients and their wider communities face.

We can use this insight and data to do several things:

• to help us understand our community better and support it appropriately.
• to influence decision-makers to change policies and practices.
• to campaign to get decision-makers to change policies and practices.

What will you do:

• Complete an introduction to Citizens Advice and training for your role.
• Provide support and guidance to advisers to enable them to identify suitable cases for research and campaign work.
• Undertake research and collect relevant data.
• Help analyse completed Evidence Forms to identify patterns or trends that may require further research and/or campaign action.
• Help give feedback to advisers and managers on completed Evidence Forms.
• Stay abreast of key local and national research and campaign/social policy work.
• Participate in local and national research and campaigns.
• Contribute to the maintenance of our research and campaign records.
• Review the effectiveness of existing research and campaign work.
• Identify new research and campaign initiatives based on local intelligence.
•  Make a real difference to people’s lives.
•  Learn about a range of areas such as benefits, debt, and housing, and how problems in these areas can affect clients.
• Build on valuable skills such as communication, research, campaigns, how to engage with a range of audiences and working with clients.
•  Increase your employability.
• Have a positive impact in your community and on broader society.
• We’ll reimburse expenses too.

You don’t need specific qualifications or skills, but you’ll need to:

• Be friendly and approachable.
• Respect views, values and cultures that are different to your own.
• Have excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Be able to understand complex information and explain it (verbally and writing) so that others understand it.
• Have a positive attitude towards research and campaigns, keeping up to date with current issues, and sharing your knowledge.
• Have good IT skills.
• Be willing to learn about and follow the Citizens Advice aims, principles and policies, including confidentiality and data protection.
• Be willing to undertake training in your role.

Valuing Inclusion
Our volunteers come from a range of backgrounds, and we welcome applications from disabled people, people with physical or mental health conditions, LGBTQ+, non-binary people, and people from Black Asian Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities. If you are interested in a research and campaigns volunteer role and would like to discuss flexibility around location, time, ‘what you will do’ and how we can support you please contact us.

If you are interested in this voluntary role, please submit and expression of interest using this link.

Volunteer Vacancy – Friends of CAEW Coordinator

 Role: Friends of Citizens Advice Elmbridge West (CAEW) – Coordinator.

Hours: Estimated one day a week commitment – flexible hours to suit you.

Location: Walton on Thames / Remote.

Reporting to: Business Development Manager.

Citizens Advice Elmbridge West

Citizens Advice Elmbridge West provides free, independent, impartial, and confidential advice to anybody in need. We support the communities of Walton on Thames, Weybridge, and Hersham in Surrey. Highly trained volunteers are the cornerstone of our operation, enabling many people to seek help and support for a wide range of issues they are facing in life.

Role Overview

Many people do not realise that Citizens Advice is a charity. We are funded largely by grants from Elmbridge Borough Council, Surrey County Council, and trust funders such as Walton Charity, Community Foundation for Surrey and The National Lottery.

We are looking to diversify our income by setting up a “Friends of Citizens Advice Elmbridge West (CAEW)” group. The aim of the new group is to build awareness of our service, it’s impact and help us raise funds through events both in the community or digitally. This may be by attending existing community events or creating new events – the scope is wide.

The Friends of CAEW Coordinator will play a crucial role in setting up and coordinating the new group, supported by the Business Development Manager, CEO, Trustee Board and Staff and Volunteer team. This volunteer position is highly flexible and can be remote or can be based in the office or a mixture of both. The role may offer the opportunity to return to work, gain or build charity sector experience, whilst also making a significant impact in a dynamic and supportive environment. Full training will be provided.

Key Responsibilities

• Set up a Friends of CAEW group and coordinate committee meetings and events.
• Community Engagement: Act as the primary point of contact for members of Friends of CAEW, encouraging supporters, planning events, providing updates, answering queries, and encouraging active participation.
• Event Coordination: Organise and support events, both virtual and in-person, to engage and grow the Friends of Citizens Advice Elmbridge West community and funds raised.
• Communication: Prepare and feed into Citizens Advice Elmbridge West internal and external communications keeping stakeholders informed and engaged.
• Supporter Management: Maintain accurate records of funds raised, donors, stakeholders, member contact information and engagement activities.

Person Specification

• Community Minded : An interest and commitment to Citizens Advice Elmbridge West’s mission and values and the local communities of Walton on Thames, Weybridge and Hersham we serve.
• Communication Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Organisational Skills: Strong organisational and planning abilities.
• Interpersonal Skills: Ability to build and maintain relationships with a diverse group of people and CAEW stakeholders.
• Experience: Previous experience in community engagement, event planning, or volunteer coordination is desirable but not essential.
• IT Proficiency: Comfortable using email, social media, and Microsoft 365.

Benefits

• Skill Development: Gain valuable experience in community engagement, event planning and working in a local independent charity.
• Training: Extensive training and development opportunities.
• Be part of the team and Networking: Join our fantastic volunteer team, connect with like-minded individuals and professionals, including across the Elmbridge, Surrey and National charity community.
• Impact: Play a key role in advancing the mission of Citizens Advice Elmbridge West and making a difference in the community.

How can I find out more?

At Citizens Advice, we recognise the positive value of diversity, promoting equity and celebrating inclusion. We welcome and encourage volunteers from all backgrounds. If you are interested in this volunteer role, please submit an expression of interest selecting the “Fundraising” box – here.