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Applications for this opportunity will open in September 2024.
About Citizens Advice Kensington & Chelsea听听
Citizens Advice Kensington & Chelsea provides free, confidential and impartial advice and campaigns on significant issues affecting people鈥檚 lives. Their goal is to help everyone find a way forward with the problems they face. They offer advice and information on a wide range of subjects including Welfare Benefits, Employment, Housing, Consumer law, Legal, Tax, Family law, Energy suppliers and Immigration & Nationality.听
About the Client Support Volunteer Role:听
Meet and greet clients at the CAB Kensington and Chelsea office. 听
Offer initial assessments for clients at our drop-in centers and hubs throughout the borough.听
Signpost clients to useful information and resources.听
1-day per week commitment, from 9:30AM 鈥� 4:30PM. 听
You will begin as a Client Support Volunteer to build essential skills in client interaction.听
After gaining experience in client support, clients can receive 鈥楶athfinder Training,鈥� which will allow them to advance to the Pathfinder Role. As a Pathfinder, you will be able to explore client issues and identify solutions for them. 听
Why become a Client Support Volunteer?听
Make a real difference to people鈥檚 lives.听
Enroll onto CAB鈥檚 9-week training program and gain a certificate.听
Learn about a range of legal issues, covering benefits, debt, employment, housing. 听
Build on valuable skills such as communication, problem-solving, research, campaigns, engaging with a range of audiences, and working with clients.听
Have a positive impact on your community.听
Training and Supervision听
CAB K&C鈥檚 structured nine-week training program will train students in:听
Client interaction 听
CAB鈥檚 internal systems and websites听
Legal knowledge (primarily in housing and welfare benefits) 听
Form filling 听
Housing applications听
CAB will periodically meet 1-1 with students to review your progress through the CAB training program, focusing on completed modules and recent assessments. This will address any training needs and ensure you are supported.听
All students will receive the CAJ Mandatory Volunteer training, which covers data protection and confidentiality, working with vulnerable clients, professional conduct and regulation, self-care, and our expectations of CAJ volunteers.听
Valuing Inclusion 听
CAKC volunteers come from a range of backgrounds, and they particularly welcome applications from disabled people, people with physical or mental health conditions, LGBT+ and non-binary people, and people from Black Asian Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities.听
What CAB K&C is looking for: 听
While not essential, this role will lend itself well to someone who lives within the borough. 听
Friendly and approachable volunteers: Our clients are sometimes vulnerable and need to be supported by friendly and approachable volunteers.听
Respect for views, values and cultures that are different to your own.听
Empathy when faced with sensitive topics.听
Excellent verbal and written communication skills: this is not limited to spoken and written English. We are particularly interested in volunteers who speak other languages as well as English.听
Candidates who are able to understand and explain complex information clearly (verbally and in writing).听
Strong IT skills.听
Candidates who are willing to learn and undertake training.听
Pro Bono Skills Development Framework 听听
The Centre for Access to Justice now offers all students engaged in voluntary pro bono the opportunity to participate in the听Pro听Bono听Skills听Development Framework. This framework allows you to reflect on the听skills听gained during your placement, aligned with the听听Completing it earns you a Certificate of Commitment to听Pro听Bono, acknowledging your dedication and skill development. Your participation will help you document and showcase the valuable competencies you've developed, however, please note that participation in the PBSDF scheme is entirely voluntary and will not affect your placement in any way.听
Eligibility and How to Apply
Eligibility
This opportunity is open to听LLB students in Years 2, 3, 4, and LLM Students. 听
When applying for this role, please ensure you will be able to volunteer in-person at the CAB K&C office for 1 day every week from 9:30AM 鈥� 4:30PM.听
How to Apply听
Applications for this opportunity will open on 23 September 2024. 听
The application deadline is 21 October 2024 at 11:59PM. Interviews will take place at the CAB K&C Office at Chelsea Old Town Hall, Kings Road, London, SW3 5EB. 听
Please apply via the .听When applying, please make sure you have completed the听.听You only need to complete this once per academic year.听听
Should you have any questions, please contact Annika Melwani at听annika.melwani@ucl.ac.uk.听
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