Debt and benefits advisor volunteer roles

Generalist Adviser

Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire

Bristol, South Gloucestershire (On-site)

City of Bristol

Unpaid role, expenses paid

Voluntary

Social Welfare

Actively Interviewing

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Job description

Want to help your community? We are seeking up to 10 new Volunteer Generalist Advisers with Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire?

The rewarding role would involve training to help with a vast range of problems. These include but are not limited to benefits, debt, housing and employment.

The charity is particularly keen to encourage applications from people with a diverse range of backgrounds. This is especially the case for people from BAME backgrounds who are currently under-represented.

The role would involve giving advice to clients both face-to-face and over the telephone.

Main duties and responsibilities may include:

Interviewing clients, both face-to-face and on the telephone, letting the client explain their enquiry and helping the client to set priorities
Finding, interpreting and communicating the relevant information and exploring options and implications in order that the client can come to a decision
Acting, where necessary, on behalf of the client, negotiating, drafting or writing letters or making appropriate referrals
Completing clear and accurate case records
Recognising the root causes of problems and participating in taking appropriate action
Keeping up to date on important issues by attending the appropriate training and by essential reading
Attending team meetings

Personal skills and qualities needed to become a Volunteer Generalist Adviser:

A commitment to the aims and principles of the service
Excellent communication skills
Being open and approachable
Ability to communicate clearly both orally and in writing
Ability to sift through information and extract what is relevant
Basic mathematical skills, including percentages
Respect for views, values and cultures that are different to their own
An understanding of why confidentiality is important
Being open to using computers on a regular basis
A positive attitude to self-development and assessment
Ability to work as part of a team
Ability to recognise their own limits and boundaries in the role
Good IT skills essential – ability to use websites/ databases/ research information

Applicants should be IT competent and able to commit to two sessions per week for at least two years.

Training will be held over a full day – probably a Wednesday – each week starting in May/June 2026. There will be additional training time when new recruits can observe experienced advisers.

There will be opportunities to help out for a few sessions prior to training starting so that applicants can check the role is right for them.

Organisation

Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire View profile

Registered Charity

6 - 10

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Posted on: 08 June 2026

Closing date: 06 September 2026 at 00:00

Tags: Advice / Information

The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.

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Administrative Support Volunteer - Lancashire

Shelter

Blackburn, Blackburn with Darwen (On-site)

Unpaid role, expenses paid

Voluntary

Housing and Homelessness

Actively Interviewing

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Job description

Administrative Support Volunteer - Lancashire

Information about the role

You’ll be completing a range of administrative tasks to help the local team assist people who are experiencing the housing emergency or need support with benefits and debt issues.

Location: Shelter Lancashire Hub, Blackburn Central Library, Town Hall Street, Blackburn. Volunteering activity could be in the Hub or in our community settings.

Availability: Volunteering will take place within our Hub service hours of Monday-Friday, 9am – 5pm

The above is the essential information you need to know. You can apply now or read on for more details.

Range of activities may include

- Scanning and photocopying documents
- Collating or organising information and documents
- Preparing information packs for advisors, workshops and events
- Help with planning events and activities
- Updating our local information/resources documents
- Distributing post
- Contacting clients for information or for updates
- Inputting confidential client information on to our Case Management System
- Attending meetings and note taking

This role fights the housing emergency by supporting people who are struggling with housing and bringing them one step closer to a safe home.

Benefits of volunteering with Shelter:

Volunteers are essential to Shelter’s mission to end housing injustice. We welcome volunteers from all backgrounds. The insights and life experience our volunteers bring to Shelter are valued as much as their contribution through volunteering.

We aim to provide our volunteers with a positive experience. This is by prioritising accessibility and tailoring the support we provide to the needs of the individual. We make sure our policies and processes are equitable, which means that no-one is unfairly disadvantaged while volunteering because of their background or identity.

Your skills and experience

We’d love the volunteer in this role to have good communication skills and be confident with using IT. But the most important thing is that you are friendly and caring, with enthusiasm for fighting the housing emergency.

Supporting you

You will be provided with an induction into your role, access to relevant learning and a copy of our volunteer handbook.
The role, including learning and communications, are flexible, so can be tailored so they best suit your needs and preferences.
You will be able to claim reasonable volunteering expenses in line with Shelter’s volunteer expenses policy. Where financial circumstances would be a barrier to volunteering, we may be able to offer these funds in advance.
You will be able to access our volunteer support package, including our colleague assistance programme and Shelter’s network of mental health first aiders.

Next steps

If you need to apply by an alternative method, please contact us.

We will then get back to you about your application. Shortlisted applicants will have a recruitment conversation to discuss the role further.

Upon offer of role, you will be asked to declare any unspent convictions and complete a basic level Criminal Record Check. Having a criminal record does not automatically mean you can’t volunteer with us. We will have a conversation with you to discuss the convictions in relation to the role you have applied for. Sometimes it may limit the ways you can get involved. Please contact us if you require more information.

End of document.

Organisation