Volunteering Opportunity: Volunteer Research and Campaigns Communications Coordinator with Communities 1st

The purpose of this role is to support the Research & Campaigns (R&C) Lead in Hertsmere. You will investigate and understand our clients’ issues, in order for us to advocate for our clients effectively, both locally and nationwide. You will support the team in some data analysis work looking at evidence and feedback and help to prepare written material for different audiences based on an understanding of our clients’ issues, in order for us to communicate and promote our work internally and externally and to advocate for our clients. Through your work, you will help build on the respected, professional reputation of the organisation based on our insights, data and collaborative working. You will be passionate about the work of Citizens Advice Hertsmere (CAH) and the policies and practices that affect our clients - particularly those in marginalised groups.

Opportunity Type: Long-term Commitment

District: Hertsmere

Location: From your office

Time of day: Weekday Mornings, Weekday Afternoons

Practical Considerations: What’s in it for you?

● The opportunity to make a real difference to people’s lives

● Learn about a range of areas such as benefits, debt and housing, and how problems in these areas can affect clients and other residents in Hertsmere

● Have a positive impact on someone else’s experience of volunteering with the local Citizens Advice

● Meet people and build relationships with new volunteers

● Have a positive impact in your community and on the broader society

And we’ll reimburse expenses too!


How much time do you need to give?

1-2 full days a week, preferably a Wednesday or Thursday (this can be flexible), for a minimum of 1 year.

Valuing inclusion
Our volunteers come from a range of backgrounds, and we particularly welcome applications from racially minoritised people/people of colour, disabled people, people with physical or mental health conditions, LGBTQ+ and non-binary people.

Requirements: Will require a criminal record check (DBS)

Suitable for: 18 – 25 year olds, Aged 26 and over, Older People, People with a visual impairment, People with restricted mobility

Suitable for volunteers interested in: Crisis Support, Homelessness & Housing Support, Marketing & Communication, Poverty Relief - Domestic

Does this opportunity provide wheelchair access?: Yes

Full Description:
To do this, you will…
● Identify our achievements and impact from our data, case studies and outcomes, sharing this internally to inform the team

● Support with our communication to partners and internally on social policy issues and campaigns that affect our clients

● Help create news articles for regular columns in local magazines and other media

● Contribute and help to deliver the external communications strategy (excluding social media)

● Identify and interpret trends in clients’ issues and suggest relevant actions, including designing relevant educational copy for social media and publications

● Assist with creating external newsletters for stakeholders and clients

● Assist with creating quarterly internal R&C newsletters

● Contribute to training, internal communications and working well with colleagues

● Download evidence form data from our IT system into Excel and use that information to create regular summary reports, as required

● Keep the R&C noticeboard up to date

● Regularly review a list of outside organisations to ensure they are still relevant

● Assist the R&C Lead in creating promotional material

● Attend community events to promote Citizens Advice and provide support as needed

● Ensure our R&C activity does not expose CAH to reputational risk

● Help deliver the R&C plan

● Help prepare quarterly and annual R&C updates



What do you need to have?

● Be friendly and approachable

● Be non-judgmental and respect views, values and cultures that are different to your own

● The ability to commit to, and work within, the aims, principles and policies of the Citizens Advice service and the values of Citizens Advice Hertsmere

● A clear understanding of social policy, how this affects our clients and what we can do to influence policymakers

● Contribute to creating a positive working environment in which equality and diversity and dignity at work is upheld and staff and volunteers are empowered and motivated to do their best

● Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing

● Be able to understand complex information and explain it so that others understand it

● Ability to analyse and interpret information and produce clear reports

● Ability to use IT systems and packages such as MS
Office and Adobe Acrobat

● Ability to monitor and analyse data and statistics and to check accuracy of calculations

● Ability to contribute to a team, including the ability to prioritise own workload

● Commitment to undergo training in your role as required

● Have the enthusiasm and desire to support and motivate others

● Be willing to learn about and follow the Citizens Advice aims, principles and policies, including confidentiality and data protection

● Preferably have experience using Canva and Mailchimp (though training will be provided)

● Preferably have experience in creating copy and media for publication (though additional training will be provided)