Volunteer

At Citizens Advice Peterborough (CAP), volunteers are the heart of everything we do. As a local charity, we simply couldn’t run without their support. Volunteering with us not only has a meaningful impact on the community but also offers you a chance to learn new skills, gain valuable experience and meet like-minded people. But don’t just take our word for it—read what our volunteers have to say here.

Find Out More

Why Volunteer with CAP?

CAP has a variety of roles and we’re always on the lookout for enthusiastic people to join our team. We welcome volunteers from all backgrounds. Equity, diversity, and inclusion are very important to us.

Our flexible hybrid working model allows you to volunteer from home (you’ll need good internet access and ideally a laptop or computer) with some opportunities to volunteer in person also. If you have specific needs, do let us know—we’re happy to discuss and accommodate everyone where we can.

Please note, due to our insurance, we’re currently unable to accept volunteers under the age of 18, or if you’ve used our advice service within the last 6 months.

“It has been a rewarding experience and is often what interviewers are most interested in hearing about!”
(Emily, General Adviser)

Ready to
Join Us?

Your time, skills, and enthusiasm can
make a real difference.

Please complete our Online Application Form
Application Form
We’ll contact your two referees.
After that, we’ll arrange an informal telephone chat to get to know you better.

General Adviser Role

You’ll interact directly with clients – usually over the phone. You’ll provide clients with clear information about possible options, support them in understanding their choices, and empower them to take action.

As a General Adviser, you will:
Interact directly with clients
Explore a client’s issues – taking into account their whole situation, not just the presenting issue, to help them find the best solutions
Researching, interpreting and communicating relevant options and consulting with supervisors where necessary
Acting on behalf of clients, supporting them during calls to external agencies, drafting letters or making appropriate referrals
Complete clear and accurate case records
Recognise the root cause of problems and look for themes to feed into our Research and Campaigns work

General Adviser Role

You’ll interact directly with clients – usually over the phone. You’ll provide clients with clear information about possible options, support them in understanding their choices, and empower them to take action.

As a General Adviser, you will:
Interact directly with clients
Explore a client’s issues – taking into account their whole situation, not just the presenting issue, to help them find the best solutions
Researching, interpreting and communicating relevant options and consulting with supervisors where necessary
Acting on behalf of clients, supporting them during calls to external agencies, drafting letters or making appropriate referrals
Complete clear and accurate case records
Recognise the root cause of problems and look for themes to feed into our Research and Campaigns work

Initial Contact Volunteer Role

You will interact directly with clients and help relieve the high demand for our services by triaging the clients that need just a little help and making further appointments for those that require in-depth advice.

As an initial contact volunteer, you will:
Interact directly with clients
Explore a client’s issues – taking into account their whole situation, not just the presenting issue, to help them find the best solutions
Give basic information for simple issues and help clients deal with emergencies
Book a call back or face to face appointment for clients with more in-depth issues
Complete clear and accurate case records
Recognise the root cause of problems and look for themes to feed into our Research and Campaigns work

Initial Contact Volunteer Role

You will interact directly with clients and help relieve the high demand for our services by triaging the clients that need just a little help and making further appointments for those that require in-depth advice.

As an initial contact volunteer, you will:
Interact directly with clients
Explore a client’s issues – taking into account their whole situation, not just the presenting issue, to help them find the best solutions
Give basic information for simple issues and help clients deal with emergencies
Book a call back or face to face appointment for clients with more in-depth issues
Complete clear and accurate case records
Recognise the root cause of problems and look for themes to feed into our Research and Campaigns work

Research and Campaign Assistant Role

You’ll help identify patterns in the challenges our clients face. You’ll play an essential role in advocating for change, by highlighting where policies and practices negatively impact them.

As a Research and Campaign Assistant, you might:
Carry out research, analyse data and communicate with other services, or clients to understand the issues our clients face
Organise campaigns to bring about meaningful change
Write reports to be shared within our service and externally
Get involved with national campaigns led by Citizens Advice

Research and Campaign Assistant Role

You’ll help identify patterns in the challenges our clients face. You’ll play an essential role in advocating for change, by highlighting where policies and practices negatively impact them.

As a Research and Campaign Assistant, you might:
Carry out research, analyse data and communicate with other services, or clients to understand the issues our clients face
Organise campaigns to bring about meaningful change
Write reports to be shared within our service and externally
Get involved with national campaigns led by Citizens Advice

Marketing and Communications Role

You will help promote Citizen’s Advice Peterborough (CAP) and the services we offer.

As a Marketing and Communications volunteer, you might:
Help to promote CAP so that people understand what we do, how to use our services and how to become a volunteer
Produce leaflets, newsletters, social media, website content and blogs in addition to contributing to the charity’s annual report
Work on internal and external promotions and updates
Speak to other volunteers, staff, trustees and clients where appropriate to write about their experiences with CAP

Marketing and Communications Role

You will help promote Citizen’s Advice Peterborough (CAP) and the services we offer.

As a Marketing and Communications volunteer, you might:
Help to promote CAP so that people understand what we do, how to use our services and how to become a volunteer
Produce leaflets, newsletters, social media, website content and blogs in addition to contributing to the charity’s annual report
Work on internal and external promotions and updates
Speak to other volunteers, staff, trustees and clients where appropriate to write about their experiences with CAP

EDI Mentor Role (Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion)

You’ll help promote understanding, partnerships, and inclusivity within our organisation for clients accessing our services. Your role is key in fostering awareness of equity, diversity, and inclusion.

As an EDI Mentor, you might:
Share information with staff and volunteers about EDI projects, events, and best practices.
Organise and support events that celebrate and promote awareness of protected characteristics, such as Pride or Black History Month.
Help develop processes that raise awareness of EDI issues, such as creating guidance for the team or supporting internal networks.
Support Citizens Advice Peterborough in embedding EDI principles into our work.

EDI Mentor Role (Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion)

You’ll help promote understanding, partnerships, and inclusivity within our organisation for clients accessing our services. Your role is key in fostering awareness of equity, diversity, and inclusion.

As an EDI Mentor, you might:
Share information with staff and volunteers about EDI projects, events, and best practices.
Organise and support events that celebrate and promote awareness of protected characteristics, such as Pride or Black History Month.
Help develop processes that raise awareness of EDI issues, such as creating guidance for the team or supporting internal networks.
Support Citizens Advice Peterborough in embedding EDI principles into our work.

What’s in it
for you?

By volunteering with us, you will:

Make a real difference in people’s lives.
Enhance your employability through hands-on experience.
Receive full training to support you in your role.
Gain experience working independently and as part of a team with people from diverse backgrounds.
Learn about a wide range of issues affecting our clients including benefits, debt, employment, and housing.
Develop valuable skills, including communication, listening, marketing, and advocacy.
Ready To Join Us?

What our
volunteers say

"Volunteering for Citizens Advice Peterborough was an amazing experience, the work and training team helped further my emotional intelligence skills and the ability to keep my composure in difficult situations. Conducting legal research and delivering complex ideas as practical advice to clients was a skills growth journey, and one that will benefit every aspect of my life. It was very rewarding to help people in need, especially vulnerable clients, who have often found little recourse to their problems when they first speak to you. You actually provide them their first steps or tools to get out of their situation, making a tangible difference, and I couldn’t recommend enough working at a Citizens Advice alongside your studies."

Christian
Generalist Adviser

“The most valuable aspect of volunteering for CAP is working for a trusted brand with a rich history of supporting people throughout their lifetime. The words I’d use to recommend volunteering for CAP are rewarding, holistic, educational and eye-opening.”

Samira
Research & Campaigns Assistant

"I have had a fantastic experience volunteering as an adviser with Citizens Advice Peterborough. As a recent graduate, it has provided me with the opportunity to develop invaluable skills for the workplace. The team is extremely supportive, with regular training sessions and feedback provided on the cases I have worked on. This feedback has been instrumental in my development, and I have been able to hone my customer service and case administration skills. Volunteering has also given me the chance to work with individuals from diverse backgrounds, which has been a great learning opportunity. Overall, it has been a rewarding experience and is often what interviewers are most interested in hearing about!"

Emily
Generalist Adviser

"When the Covid lockdown hit, it was not possible to carry on with my original volunteering arrangements. After considerable thought and searching I came across Citizens Advice. All it took was an email to the office and my new challenge began. After an online friendly meeting and Induction, I was then guided through the General Adviser training. Once my training was completed, I eagerly began taking calls. It is very rewarding to be able to help solve various problems the clients need help with. The supervisors were always supportive and available to assist throughout all situations encountered.

I was happy to accept the role of Volunteer Representative, as with all the responsibilities the staff have there isn’t time for them to keep a check on everyone who volunteers. I hold a friendly online catch up once a month for all volunteers to join me. We not only discuss situations relevant to CAP but also divert to common interests which allows a relaxed atmosphere for all to join in with.

If you have some spare hours, feel you need a challenge, want to help people and get that feeling of satisfaction at the end of your day, this is an ideal charity to volunteer with."

Margaret
Volunteer Representative and former Adviser

Trustee

Our trustees are also volunteers but have more responsibility as they help to make strategic decisions for CAP.  The board is collectively responsible for the governance of the charity, including setting an overall vision; this can broadly be defined as:

Holding staff accountable, and being ultimately accountable for the activities of the service
Ensuring compliance with employment regulations, safeguarding and Equity Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) matters
Providing leadership to all in the charity
Developing policy
Strategic oversight and financial decisions

The board is responsible for maintaining a high-level overview of the charity and its place in the community and using that to make long-term decisions about strategic direction and values. As the governing body, it has overall responsibility for the management of the charity.

The board delegates the operational management of the service to the chief executive officer, making sure it runs smoothly and effectively, and delivers the service agreed with the board. This essentially means that the board gives the chief officer duties and powers to represent them, and to manage the service on their behalf. 

Apply now

Trusteeship can be rewarding for many reasons - from a sense of making a difference to the charitable cause, to new experiences and relationships. It’s also likely to be demanding of your time, skills, knowledge and abilities. We welcome trustees from a variety of diverse backgrounds, though there are some skills and experience that may be valuable to the board, such as; fundraising, legal, safeguarding, EDI.

For further information on trusteeship - The Charity Commission has produced a detailed guide to the duties and responsibilities of all charity trustees.

If you are interested in becoming a Trustee, please email: volunteering@peterboroughcab.org.uk

If possible, with some brief background on yourself and a copy of your latest CV.

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