Volunteer with us and
make a difference
Want to be part of an amazing team?
Want to help people in your local community?
Looking for a rewarding role which builds on your skills and experience?
Our volunteers come from a variety of backgrounds and are at the heart of what we do. Some are gaining knowledge and skills to support them in their future career. Some are retired but want to use their experience to help others and ‘give something back’ and some are students who want to use their ‘year off’ to gain valuable skills to enhance their CV. Whatever the reason, our volunteers have one thing in common, they want to make a difference.
Our volunteers perform a variety of roles, such as:
- giving information, advice and client support – this could be on the phone, by email and face-to-face
- admin and case management support
- research and campaign work
- fundraising and events
- public relations and media
- championing volunteering, recruitment and team support.
Why we volunteer
Evelin’s story
I’m from Brazil and I’ve been living in the UK since 2019. I’m a Brazilian lawyer, and volunteering with Citizens Advice Taunton has been an amazing experience to me. As a foreign lawyer, CA is giving me a vast knowledge about the law and procedure. Also, I have the opportunity to develop my English skills which is so useful, as English is not my first language. I’m sure that my first step to become a qualified lawyer in England, in the future couldn’t be better.
Volunteering is something that changes us. I’m so happy to be part of this organization, and to help people that needed a free and impartial advice. I found here more than one opportunity to improve my skills, in a place where people work so hard in order to help others. It inspires me and makes me feel that whatever I do in the future this spirit will be part of my lifework.
Sarah’s story
Before I joined Citizens Advice Taunton I worked in the NHS as a palliative care physiotherapist. My role involved helping people physically and emotionally to adapt to the progression of their disease and make the very best of the time they had left to them.
When I retired from the NHS, I wanted to find another role where I could make a real difference to people’s lives. I have found that Citizens Advice has fulfilled this need. The work is mentally stimulating and my experience in the NHS has been invaluable in helping me to communicate with clients to find a solution to their problems. I feel part of an excellent team of dedicated staff and volunteers and I look forward to going in to the office or logging on at home.
Karuna’s story
I’m a retired chartered Engineer with experience in both public and private sectors, including implementing interventions to help with economic development and regeneration with a focus on those areas with hard to reach and disadvantaged communities. More recently I jointly planned and delivered community forums and workshops around social justice and the environment. I’m also the founding member of Climate Action Taunton, a trust providing practical help and guidance to people concerned about the climate and the ecological emergencies.
I really wanted to do something practical to help people to help themselves and Citizens Advice does exactly that and more. As a volunteer I am always learning and better understanding the wider hardship and needs in our society and altogether feel that it is a privilege to be a volunteer adviser.
Equality, diversity and inclusion
Our aim is to provide inclusive and accessible volunteering opportunities to people from a range of different communities, backgrounds, life experiences, abilities and ages. We particularly welcome applications from people from Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities, LGBTQ+ and non-binary people and people with physical or mental health conditions.
How to get involved
We pride ourselves in the induction and training we offer and the ongoing support we give our volunteers who are critical to our ability to deliver a high quality service. Regardless of your background and experience there could be a role for you.
Have a read through the various role descriptions and person specifications below and see if something appeals to you.
We recruit throughout the year for most roles (subject to the charity’s need) and we run our comprehensive adviser training programme twice a year in March and September.
All volunteers complete an application form and may be invited to an interview. However, before completing an application form we would recommend that you have a chat with us so we can tell you about the role(s) we are currently recruiting for, and which might be a good fit for your skills and goals.
Contact our Volunteer Recruitment Co-ordinator by:
email recruitment@tauntoncab.org.uk or
phone 01823 448978
Volunteers are the force of our organisation and without them, we would not be able to deliver the level of service we offer.
Citizens Advice offers some of the most exciting and rewarding volunteering roles available. Our team will provide you with induction and ongoing support during your time with us, and opportunities to take on other roles in the future as your skills and interests develop. Why not have a chat about the opportunities below?
What can I do?
Here’s a list of the current roles we’re looking for:
What’s involved?
Depending on the role you’re interested in you will go through different steps to becoming a volunteer with us. We will explain those to you when you enquire.
For all roles you will receive full training in the skills you need – volunteers are supported and supervised throughout their time with us, so you’re never alone.
How to join us?
For Adviser and PR vacancies
If you’d like an informal chat please email us at recruitment@tauntoncab.org.
If you decide to apply, please submit your application via our webform, and we will respond to you within a fortnight.
For the Chair of Trustees vacancy
Enquiry and application details are included in the Information Pack.
Thank you very much for thinking about volunteering as an Advisor for Citizens Advice. Advisor training is currently being delivered remotely by Citizen Advice Somerset, via our Somerset Training Academy, which prepares advisors to help clients from all over the county on behalf of the 5 Somerset Citizens Advice offices. Once qualified, cohorts of advisors remain as a team and, with support, work from home on our county wide telephone service. An individual advisor might later choose to transfer to a local office to deliver face to face advice (when this resumes) or to take on a particular role that exists there.
To take your enquiry further, ask for more information, or to complete an application click here
What does it take to be a volunteer?
You don’t need specialist skills or knowledge.
Can you…
- Listen with care and attention to details
- Put people at their ease and help them explain their problems clearly
- Be non-judgmental and open- minded
- Read and write English and do basic arithmetic
- Use a computer and the internet with confidence
- Learn new skills and commit to completing the foundation training course
- Agree to carry out your role in accordance with the aims, principles and policies of Citizens Advice Taunton
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