Volunteering at CAB as an adviser is hugely rewarding. Each session is different and clients come to us with issues as diverse as consumer issues through to housing problems and those simply looking to be signposted to another organisation. We are looking for people who love to work as part of our friendly team and have an open and enthusiastic manner. Advisers help clients reach informed decisions and may assist in drafting letters, making phone calls and filling in forms. We are looking for people who would be able to commit to giving six hours per week to CAB although this may be negotiable. This would be split over two sessions per week. We provide fantastic training and ongoing support with our next training group starting late September. If you would like to make a positive difference to Moray residents this is your chance. Excellent verbal and written communication skills Good computer skills Ability to work as part of a team and with the general public Be able to extract relevant information and present it to clients appropriately Be willing to undertake training

You can make a real difference in helping your community by volunteering with Dalkeith Citizens Advice Bureau. Our team of volunteers are vital to the work we do, helping people access the information and in giving them the advice they need to move forward with their lives. We believe that everyone deserves access to independent, free and non-judgemental advice to help them deal with life’s problems and challenges - and you can help us to do that. Volunteers are at the heart of how we deliver the Citizens Advice service, whether it’s helping people online, by email, over the phone or in person. You will receive training in advice giving and IT. All we need is 4 to 6 hours per week of your time.

To help provide effective and efficient advice to members of the public. -Interviewing clients -Finding, interpreting and communicating information so clients can make informed decisions -Act on behalf of clients, when needed - Negotiating, referring and drafting letters for clients -Completing clear case records -Recognising the root cause of problems and participating in taking action Our volunteer Advisers can either be generalist advisers (they advise on many different topics) or they can become specialist advisers (advising on a specific topic(s))

There are lots of reasons why you might want to volunteer in your local bureau: • It’s a really stimulating place to volunteer, with lots of different things to do • You can help in a way that suits the time you can spare and the skills you can offer • You can learn new skills and improve your confidence • Our comprehensive bureau training and supervision programmes mean you’ll get lots of support along the way • Lots of people who’ve been Citizens Advice Bureau volunteers move on to paid work or further education • You'll get a buzz from helping yourself and those around you • You'll meet new and interesting people • If you're looking for a job, working in a bureau won't affect your benefits What does an adviser do? The role of a Citizens Advice Bureau adviser is very varied. Here’s some more information on some of the things advisers do in the Citizens Advice Bureau: • Interview clients at the bureau, by phone or in person. Some bureaux give advice by e-mail or even by SMS • Provide information from AdviserNet and other sources • Explain the choices the client faces, and what these choices mean • Offer practical help to clients by writing letters, making phone calls and helping fill in forms • Perform calculations (for example, to assess entitlement to certain kinds of benefits) • Refer clients to other agencies if they are better placed to help • Keep records of all clients’ cases • Prevent future problems by identifying issues that affect a lot of clients – this is called social policy work • Some bureau advisers represent clients at tribunals