Do you want to help your local Citizens Advice Bureau support your local community? We are looking for new Trustee Board Members to join us. We’re looking for individuals who share our passion and values, who will support us to deliver our mission to empower and support citizens throughout the Inverness, Badenoch & Strathspey in areas such as Housing issues, Debt and Money Advice, Benefits and Income Maximisation, Energy, Employment, Consumer Rights, and Relationship/Family issues, to help create a more equal and inclusive society.

As a Board Member, you are responsible for the strategic management of the Bureau. Each CAB is a separate registered charity and for your local bureaux to be effective, a wide range of experience is required.

At Inverness Badenoch and Strathspey CAB we welcome Board Members who are enthusiastic about helping their community, even if they don't feel they have specific professional skills.

The Board’s role is to provide overall governance for the Bureau, to set strategic direction, and to ensure that, as an organisation, we are providing the services required to support the community.

What might you be doing?

• Attend Board meetings regularly (approximately 6 per year) and to sit on interview panels as and when required.
• Take an active part in the discussions at the meeting
• Take an interest in the work of the bureau
• You might have a specific skill you can bring to the Board (eg financial management)
• Help set policies, local objectives and bureau projects
• Provide enthusiastic support for bureau volunteers and staff locally.

For further information on the role of a trustee, visit: cas.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer-citizens-advice-bureau

This is a volunteer opportunity however, expenses will be paid.

About the job - CAB2Careers

Motherwell & Wishaw Citizens Advice Bureau (MWCAB) has secured funding to deliver two highly flexible, participant-led, employability programmes; targeting the most vulnerable service users residing in the most deprived areas across North Lanarkshire. The Employability Programme will target:

• Unemployed people with physical or learning disability able and wishing to progress/return to work (all ages).
• Unemployed people with health conditions wishing to progress/return to work including those in recovery from addictions (all age).
• Long-term unemployed residents or those with low skill levels (all age).
• Unemployed residents residing in 5% most deprived data zones (SIMD2020) (all age)
• Unemployed Black and minority ethnic residents including refugees (all age) Unemployed, low income, and/or economically inactive parents,
• Lone parents, and
• Parents from an ethnic minority background

The course

The 4-week course will be made up of one-one bespoke sessions, tutor-led group workshops, helping participants to:

• recognise barriers and begin to address them.
• identify their skills/strengths.
• build their confidence and financial resilience.

Underpinned by a holistic assessment of their advice needs with a focus on crisis aversion, income maximisation, money and energy advice with the purpose of reaching financial stability before progressing to the CAB2Careers Programme

Phase 2

Participants will be able to access further SQA-accredited courses based on their interests/skills. Alternatively, they can pursue our in-house vocational training – Advisor Training Programme or Admin Training Programme, voluntary work with a range of 3rd sector partners such as LAMH recycle, British Heart Foundation etc.

Through engagement, our primary priority is to address the needs of individuals who face significant barriers to employment. Our project targets those who are not engaging with existing services, such as individuals accessing foodbanks, addiction services, organisations such as Restorative Justice. These are individuals who face compounded challenges, making it difficult for them to enter/ re-enter the workforce. Our approach is rooted in community engagement, ensuring we embed ourselves within grassroots organisations to reach and support individuals who are most in need. Through this approach, we foster trust and offer support in familiar settings, allowing us to connect with people who may not otherwise seek help. The post holder will provide integrated support, and work closely with local partners (JCP, Routes to Work) and 3rd sector employability providers (e.g., SAMH, Enable) across North Lanarkshire. You will attend Networking events/ forums/ training, augmenting our commitment to the local employability ecosystem. This partnership approach allows us to leverage existing resources, share best practices, and create stronger referral pathways to ensure individuals have access to the support they need.

Employee benefits

Motherwell & Wishaw CAB offers excellent terms and conditions, including a total of 28 days leave (increasing in line with the length of service) plus 10 public holidays. We have a flexi time scheme which enables our employees to work flexibly in line with organisational requirements, and as an inclusive employer we are happy to consider other flexible working arrangements where appropriate. We have an attractive reward and recognition package including competitive Pays Scale and award payments for exceptional performance. Hybrid working policy is currently in place.

Airdrie CAB has been serving the Airdrie area for over 50 years. We are a trusted and respected organisation, providing advice and support to the people of Airdrie and surrounding villages.

We are looking for an enthusiastic, dynamic and motivated person to join our team. Airdrie CAB works in partnership with Covey Befriending and we are looking for an individual to provide Financial advice/support to clients engaging with Covey.

The successful applicant will also provide holistic support to clients on a variety of issues including but not limited to benefits, debt, housing, employment, energy and relationship. Full training will be provided.

The Covey mission is to support children, young people and families to become more resilient, safe and better equipped to reach their full potential. They do this through providing one to one and group-based befriending, mentoring and family support across Lanarkshire. They provide consistent relationship-based support, which is centred on the individual’s needs, interests and hopes. They aim to improve health and wellbeing, social connections, confidence and increase engagement with education, training, volunteering or employment.

The successful applicant will be encouraged and supported in their personal development by the Senior Management Team.

Employee benefits

Airdrie Citizens Advice Bureau offers excellent terms and conditions and is an inclusive employer considering flexible working arrangements where appropriate. For more details of some of the other benefits on offer to our employees, please contact us for more information.

Core Duties

• Provide advice/support to clients on issues affecting their financial wellbeing e.g. benefits, income maximisation, debt, employment and relationship.
• Produce reports and plans for the purposes of monitoring and reviewing the objectives of the service.
• Record, update and maintain information on a case management system for the purpose of continuity of casework, information retrieval, statistical monitoring and report preparation to ensure that all work meets quality standards and the requirements of the funder.
• Carry out other duties as specified by the bureau CEO and required by the exigencies of the post

Essential Criteria

• Ability to travel within the local CAB area and elsewhere, as required
• Work experience in the advice sector
• Experience in project delivery
• Experience in the use of IT packages
• Experience of preparing reports and plans

Desirable Criteria

• Computer proficient
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Ability to plan work
• Ability to develop new ideas through to operation
• Attention to detail and problem-solving skills
• Ability to adapt to new situations
• Skilled in report writing
• Ability to work without close supervision, prioritise own work and meet deadlines
• Ability to work hours flexibly as required by the needs of the service.

This exciting project focuses on energy advice provision in Airdrie. We are looking to recruit an adviser to deliver Energy Advice in our community via face to face and telephone appointments. Full training will be provided to the successful applicant to allow you to reach your full potential.

Our project aims to support vulnerable energy consumers, within one of Scotland’s most deprived areas, to tackle the on-going impact of surging energy bills, reduce fuel poverty and help to manage energy debt. Our project will raise awareness of energy efficiencies and empower vulnerable individuals, helping to reduce the impact of poverty.

The successful applicant will be encouraged and supported in their personal development by the bureau CEO.

Employee benefits

Airdrie Citizens Advice Bureau offers excellent terms and conditions and is an inclusive employer considering flexible working arrangements where appropriate. For more details of some of the other benefits on offer to our employees, please contact us for more information.

Core Duties

• To conduct in person and telephone interviews, using sensitive listening and questioning skills to allow clients to explain their problem(s) and empower them to set their own priorities
• To provide energy efficiency advice to each client assisting with switching suppliers or tariffs, joining the Priority Services Register
• To provide advice and support in relation to energy debt and billing issues.
• Refer complex cases to CAS Extra Help Unit
• Support to access emergency funds
• To record, update and maintain information on a case management system for the purpose of continuity of casework, information retrieval, statistical monitoring, and report preparation
• To work to Scottish National Standards for Information and Advice giving and Citizens Advice Scotland Quality Advice Framework
• The above job description is not exhaustive and is clarified to include broad duties inherent in the post as reasonably requested by the bureau CEO

Essential Criteria

• Ability to work with limited supervision and prioritise workload
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex information in a clear and accessible manner
• Excellent organisational skills
• A commitment to the aims and principles of Citizens Advice Bureau. Ability to operate as a team player and communicate effectively with others

Desirable Criteria

• Demonstrable experience of delivering energy advice
• Understanding of holistic advice
• Ability to use telephony and IT systems to deliver services across multiple channels (web chat, telephony and video) via Avaya, Zoom, TEAMS and other systems
• Experience of working with people with multiple and complex needs
• Experience of working with protected adults and ability to deal with issues sensitively