Citizens Advice Wokingham provides a free advice service to the residents of Wokingham Borough.
Last year, we helped 5,170 people find a way forward with 17,817 issues.
Our volunteers make a huge difference – and you could be one of our new Trainee Advisers who provide a vital part of this help.
As a Trainee Adviser you’ll be supported throughout your journey with us by our Training Manager: You’ll follow the Adviser Learning Programme, starting with an induction and some core learning. After this you’ll answer phone calls from our clients to triage their issues – all with the support of our Supervisors who are available every day we’re open. You’ll then continue with some further learning to embed more knowledge and put it into perspective through some of the client work you’ve already been involved with.
Then you’ll start looking at how you can deal with more of the issues yourself, by doing the benefit applications or debt exploration yourself – first shadowing some of our experienced team and then trying it yourself, again with access to our supervisor and expert advice team every day we’re open.
You’ll be allocated a mentor, receive a weekly briefing and have regular access to a supportive team.
Our Training Manager will have one-to-one check-ins with you to see how your volunteering and learning journey is going.
We’re seeing more demand than ever before, with the cost of living crisis really making more people struggle with making ends meet. Our core areas of help include benefits, debt, housing, employment and relationships and family – you’ll learn more about these areas and have access to information and tools on each of these topics when you join us.
The Wokingham Foodbank provides a lifeline to those who need it the most.
The number of people needing hardship support has increased in recent years and we anticipate this trend to continue especially in light of the cost-of-living crisis.
You will play a vital role for our Foodbank ensuring that we are meeting the demand for our services, providing help and support to people in crisis in the local community. We are looking for someone who can volunteer for one morning a week ideally on Mondays from 9.30am-12.30pm.
The role will include preparing the warehouse space for the dating/sorting sessions, receiving food donations from members of the public and thank them, ensuring that incoming stock is checked, weighed, and recorded, supervising a small team to date and sort food, keeping warehouse area clean and tidy at all times and participating in bi-monthly team leader meetings.
We are looking for someone who is able to supervise and motivate a team of volunteers, be a strong team player, be organised and self-motivated, be reliable and punctual and be physically strong enough to lift heavy bags and crates of tinned food and be friendly and empathetic. Based Winnersh.
Do you have few hours or more to spare each week? Maybe you are recently retired? Perhaps your children are at school?
Maybe you work shifts or work on a part-time basis and would like a voluntary role which can fit around them? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then the Wokingham Community Transport Scheme needs you! All you need is your own car – there is no cost to you as we reimburse all your expenses.
We are looking for drivers who can provide transport for older people to attend vital medical appointments such hospitals, local doctors, dentists, opticians, physiotherapists. drivers who can help with one off social trips (such as shopping and visiting friends/family in hospital/care homes etc.) and more regular social trips (such as to a lunch club or activity which may involve dropping them of and picking them up later rather than waiting with them)
Time commitment can be very flexible.
If you live in Wokingham, Finchampstead, Winnersh and Barkham and you would like to help, please get in touch! You must be a minimum of age 21.
Unfortunately, we cannot take on any new volunteers aged 75 and over due to insurances purposes.
If you would like to find out more about volunteering in your local area, please visit our website www.volunteerwokinghamborough.org.uk . Alternatively, to speak to someone in more detail, please contact our Volunteer Services Manager, Helena Badger on 0118 977 0749 or email volunteer@wok-vol.org.uk
