Volunteer With Us

Across the Citizens Advice network, there are over 20,000 volunteers – volunteering at Citizens Advice is a unique opportunity to support local communities, learn new skills and feel part of a valuable team.

At Citizens Advice Bury & Bolton, people of all ages give up their time to volunteer with us. Our volunteers come from a wide range of backgrounds, including young people, professionals who want to broaden their horizons and retired people who want to give something back. A number of staff at Citizens Advice Bury & Bolton started out at volunteers themselves!

If you are interested in volunteering with us, please click here to register your expression of interest and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Quotes from our volunteers:

  • “It’s great being able to help people in so many different ways, being able to learn from and appreciate what others are experiencing, and there’s a real co-operative spirit.”
  • “The training was extremely thorough. The support is fantastic from everyone at Citizens Advice Bury & Bolton, I find being an adviser rewarding, stimulating, at times humbling, and very enjoyable.”
  • “I get a sense of being involved. I like being part of the activities and keeping up with issues, and we have a laugh too.”

What does volunteering with

Citizens Advice Bury & Bolton look like?

All our volunteers are trained to enable them to perform their duties. You do not need to have any particular qualification or experience, but the following abilities will help:

  • A commitment to the aims and principles of Citizens Advice Bury & Bolton.
  • Excellent communication skills, both oral and written.
  • Excellent listening skills.
  • Ability to maintain a calm, professional and empathetic manner.
  • A confident and articulate telephone manner.
  • Being open and approachable.
  • Ability to quickly sift through information and extract what is relevant.
  • Basic mathematical skills, including percentages.
  • Competence in using IT.
  • A positive attitude to self-development and assessment.
  • Ability to work as part of a team.
  • Respect for views, values and cultures different from own.
  • An understanding of why confidentiality is important.
  • Ability to recognise own limits and boundaries in the role.

 

Volunteers will be expected to commit to a minimum of 1 day a week, or 2 half days a week (6 hours) when training and subsequently when on rota. We expect volunteers to be able to provide their services for a minimum of 6 months after the training is complete.

The training will consist of some or all of the following as appropriate:

  • Learning journals
  • Computer-based bite-size exercises
  • Computer-based e-learning
  • Podcasts
  • Participative observations
  • Group sessions
  • Portfolio assessments
  • Face to face training courses

The duration of this training is approximately 3-6 months. You can complete some of the training at home if you so wish, e.g. computer-based bite-sizes and e-learning. However, you will still be expected to attend the office for training on a regular basis. This will enable you to meet fellow volunteers and members of staff, and benefit from the assistance and support of training supervisors.

Please note we are unable to provide training during the evening or at weekends.

 

Please note our services will be reduced across Bury & Bolton from 1pm Monday 23rd December 2024 and will resume as normal on Thursday 2nd January 2025. See below ways we can support you during this period:

We will be actioning online referrals on 24th, 27th, 30th and 31st December

This service will be available 6pm to 9pm on: 27th, 28th, 29th and 30th December 2024

Emergency contact details for local authorities are:

Bury – https://www.bury.gov.uk/emergencies/emergency-contact-numbers

Bolton – https://www.bolton.gov.uk/council/emergency-contacts

Call our Help Through Hardship line on 0808 208 2138, this line is open 9am-5pm on 24th, 27th, 30th, 31st December

Additional resources for 24/7 self-help advice are also available on

www.citizensadvice.org.uk

The National Domestic Abuse helpline is open 24 hours a day and can be contacted on 0808 2000 247. If you’re in an emergency situation you should call 999

National Debt Line Debt helpline: 0800 240 4420

Relay UK – if you can’t hear or speak on the phone, you can type what you want to say: 18001 then 0800 240 4420

You can use Relay UK with an app or a textphone. There’s no extra charge to use it. Find out how to use Relay UK on the Relay UK website.

This time of year can be hard. But there’s support available if you need it.

The Samaritans is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and can be contacted on 116 123 or by email.

Switchboard is a helpline for LGBT+ people and is open 10am until 10pm everyday. You can call them on 0800 0119 100 or use their online chat.

Shout 85258 is a 24 hours a day text service which offers mental health support. You can contact them by texting SHOUT to 85258.

The Silver Line — a helpline for older people ran by Age UK. Call 0800 4 70 80 90 24hrs a day

NSPCC Helpline — if you’re worried about a child. Call 0808 800 5000 (Mon-Fri 10am-8pm)

Power cut 105 — if you have a power cut Call 105 24hrs a day

National Gambling Helpline Call 0808 8020 133 24 hours a day

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