Student volunteers at Citizens Advice win 3 times with new skills, a stronger CV and great work experience.
Did you know Citizens Advice offers volunteering opportunities for students? It’s rewarding, a chance to learn new skills, boost your CV and get a better understanding of working life.
Jane Sheils is Volunteer Publicity Adviser at Citizens Advice Epsom & Ewell. (3 minutes)
For Student Volunteering Week (10-14 February), we asked two student volunteers with us for at least a year why they chose us and what they hope to get out of the experience.
Jane joined us nearly five months ago. She is training to be an Adviceline adviser, the first point of contact for a telephone enquiry. Jane studied Education, Culture, and Society at university, which gave her an understanding of how social structures and policies affect people’s lives. Marcey is studying for a Masters in Law while also volunteering with us as an Adviceline trainee.
Jane – Adviceline Trainee
Always passionate about fairness and equality, Jane’s studies reinforced her desire to work in a field that supports people who may not have the knowledge or resources to advocate for themselves.
Jane wants to develop her ability to communicate complex information in a clear and compassionate way.
Active listening
She says people can come to Citizens Advice feeling overwhelmed with problems that require just the skills she hopes to strengthen: active listening and problem-solving. She is also keen to build confidence in challenging situations, so she can provide guidance that genuinely makes a difference.
Jane chose Citizens Advice for her volunteering experience as she wants to be part of an organisation that stands up for people who may have nowhere else to turn.
So many individuals face unexpected difficulties – whether financial, legal, or personal – and knowing Citizens Advice exists to offer free, impartial help really resonated with her. She wants to contribute to a service that gives people the knowledge they need, helps them regain control and ultimately improves their lives.
Marcey – Adviceline Trainee
Marcey is currently studying for a Masters in Law while volunteering with us as an Adviceline trainee adviser. She is keen to develop her communication and research skills.
With her Sociology and Social Policy degree Marcey gained and insight into the challenges social policies can create and the impact they can have on individuals. This made her want to empower individuals with knowledge of their rights and advise on their next steps. Citizens Advice fitted the bill. Being able to make a positive contribution to someone’s life gives Marcey a sense of purpose she finds very rewarding.
Teamwork
Both Jane and Marcey appreciate the teamwork they find here at Citizens Advice; colleagues are always willing to share their knowledge and offer support.
For Jane, she enjoys that every week is different and every conversation teaches her something new; that the work she does, no matter how small, has a real impact on someone’s life, whether helping them access financial support, understand their rights or feel heard in a difficult moment.
Patience and care
Jane has seen first-hand how complex and overwhelming some situations can be. Sometimes solutions aren’t immediate and it’s tough knowing a single call might not resolve everything. But Jane reminds herself that every bit of support helps someone move forward. Learning how to manage these moments with patience and care has been a challenge, but it’s also one of the most rewarding aspects of the role.
We also appreciate having students like Jane and Marcey on our team bringing a different perspective and a young voice. If you are a student and interested in volunteering with us please get in touch here.