NewStarts
Description of the role
We’re looking for sociable volunteers who enjoy working with people and have excellent listening skills, to join our voluntary team of money mentors.
Working as part of the Community Money Advice programme (CMA), you will be supporting people in financial crisis, meeting with them at one of our centres, taking details, writing reports, liaising with the CMA team, and providing a first stage of support for those who need help with better managing their money and dealing with debt.
Applicants will undergo several days CMA training as part of their role, and NewStarts will also need to process a full DBS check.
Activities include:
- Building positive working relationships with people in financial crisis.
- Listening, mentoring and providing support around basic budgeting and money mentoring.
- Report writing, liaising closely with the CMA support centre.
We are looking for:
- Someone who is able to work easily with different cultures and personalities
- Someone who is an excellent listener and communicator
- Whilst prior debt management/money advice experience is not required, it would be helpful that volunteers have a solid understanding of money and budgeting which we can then build on through the CMA training
- Ideally, you can spare a half or whole day each week
Practical Considerations
- Reasonable mileage expenses can be claimed
- Minimum age 18
Any specific requirements
- Will require criminal record check.
Where is the opportunity based?
The opportunity is in Bromsgrove, New Frankley (Near Hollywood).
When is the opportunity available?
Volunteering days available to be discussed between you and the organisation.
About the organisation
NewStarts is a community project that provides practical and advocacy support to recently homeless people and others in financial crisis or on very low incomes so that they can make a fresh start in a new home.
Our aims are:
- To relieve poverty and reduce debt.
- To reduce the risk of homelessness by providing practical help with resettlement and advice.
- To protect the environment by promoting re-use and reducing landfill disposal of unwanted household goods.
NewStarts provides practical help to people on very low incomes and those in financial crisis, so they can make a fresh start in a new home. We offer volunteering opportunities and employability support to the unemployed and deliver a variety of free training schemes to help people reconnect and find employment. We are passionate about people and what they can become.
Activities involve:
- Collecting 2nd hand furniture and donating it to people in financial crisis, as well as selling it at low cost.
- Recycling old laptops, data cleansing the hard drives before reinstalling them and selling them at low cost.
- Delivering free training on key issues such as basic IT skills and money management, as well as arts and crafts.
- Offering a broad range of voluntary opportunities including: warehousing, administration, cleaning, IT recycling, woodwork and furniture repair, driving.
From our base in Bromsgrove, NewStarts:
- Donates reusable furniture and other essential household goods free of charge to more than 50 individuals and families every month who are on very low incomes moving into social housing who cannot afford to furnish their property
- Works with 80+ different agencies who refer people in genuine need of household items, serving a wide radius around Bromsgrove including Redditch, Worcester, Kidderminster, south Birmingham and north Warwickshire
- Provides work experience and volunteering placements
- Offers support and advice on housing related issues and debt
- Runs a quality second-hand furniture showroom to generate income
- Manages a small computer recycling project for people with mental health issues
- Diverts more than 176 tonnes of unwanted household goods from landfill every year via a doorstep collection service
Bromsgrove and Redditch Network 