SWANSEA CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU provides free, independent and confidential advice on any subject. Offering practical help filling out forms and drafting letters; speak to and negotiate with third parties such as creditors and use evidence of our clients’ problems to campaign for improvements to policies and services.

Swansea CAB currently has the following volunteering opportunities: 

Administration / Reception 

Volunteers wanted for general office duties including word processing, using databases and spreadsheets, filing, arranging events, answering emails and telephone calls, managing bureau stock, and updating local information.  Reception workers will be expected to: greet clients, arrange appointments answer the telephone, provide information on service to clients, manage the waiting room and keep records. 

Generalist Adviser

Volunteer advisers five general advice from benefits to immigration, interview clients and help them negotiate with people such as creditors or service providers, provide practical help by writing letters and making telephone calls on their behalf, refer them to other agencies and represent them in court and at tribunals.

Gateway Adviser (screener)

Without our trained volunteer advisers we could not continue to meet the demands for advice.  We offer a holistic generalist advice service and all advisers are given g=free formal and on the job training.  As a CAB adviser you would:  Interview clients to gain background information on their issue, refer them to the best possible advice source and arrange follow up appointments.

Computers & Technology

Volunteer IT assistant needed to support bureau workers including staff and volunteers, troubleshooting, web design, training bureau workers in IT skills and assisting with email advice.

Languages

Volunteer Interpreters needed to assist staff in various languages.

Management and Committee Work

Trustee Board members required to manage and plan the bureau’s overall strategic direction, act as employer for paid staff, manage the bureau’s finances, ensure the bureau complies with the law and are responsible for premises, insurance and equipment.

Marketing / PR and Media

Public Education Volunteer needed to promote the CAB in schools, colleges and youth organizations by giving talks about a specific problem, run an advice service for young people and be a young people’s adviser.

Volunteer Event Organiser needed to arrange events, displays and talks to promote the bureau.

Social Policy Campaigner

By using evidence collected from clients the bureau could help bring about changes in local and national policies and services which can benefit everyone even those who have never used a CAB.

Volunteers will need to complete and collate evidence forms recording clients 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 and liaise with other bureaux and agencies.

Volunteers can be from age 14 plus.  Disclosures will be undertaken.  Training provided.