Why we want you
Financial inclusion support and advice can make a huge difference to people coming to a food bank enabling them to maximise their income and ensure their debts are under control so that they no longer need to come to a food bank.
As people engage with advice, ongoing support is important to ensure that people build long-term resilience. As an ongoing support volunteer, you will act as a befriender/advocate for people who are receiving advice. This includes helping people with budgeting, assistance in managing benefit claims or simply being a friendly listening ear when needed.
What you will be doing
- Actively listening to people who are engaging with financial inclusion
- Offering financial capacity support to people once they have engaged with advice, e.g., through budgeting tools
- Supporting people with ways to maintain financial gains secured from advice i.e. any assistance in managing benefit claims
- Where appropriate, and with relevant safeguarding procedures in place, accompanying people to meetings and tribunals
- Capturing feedback and collating any case studies when appropriate
The skills you need
- Ability to get on well, and show empathy, with people from all backgrounds
- Adaptability and flexibility in handling different priorities
- Awareness and ability to uphold professional and personal boundaries
- A team player
- Good interpersonal skills, particularly in active listening and sensitivity in difficult situations
- Passion for fighting poverty and exclusion to help achieve a better society
- Understand the need for confidentiality and a non-judgmental approach
- Willingness to learn new skills and meet new people
- Ability to use own initiative
Desirable
- Knowledge and experience in managing finances, either professionally or personally, e.g., household budgeting
- Training and facilitating skills
Based in Pontyclun, with visits to other locations as needed.