Ever wanted to know what a typical day looks like for Citizens Advice IW volunteers and staff?

Here's an example of what we get up to trying to give independent advice to as many people as possible...

8:30 - Teams start their days checking web forms and emails that have come in overnight and arranging contact back with clients

 

9:00 - Volunteers and staff in the Generalist Advice team get their morning briefing, checking who is answering the phone and who is booking to call back and give advice

 

9:15 - A Tax Team advisor is meeting a client at Ryde Library to resolve issues on a tax return

 

9:45 - A client on web chat is being supported on how to start their Universal Credit claim

 

10:30 - A Homelessness Prevention advisor meets a client at their property to view it and measure up for furniture

 

10:45 - A Help Through Crisis assessor contacts a family who needs urgent help to get food and pay their electric bill

 

11:00 - At the Advice Centre in Newport a volunteer advisor has an appointment to complete a PIP form which could take two hours or longer

 

11:15 - A telephone call from a client complaining about their local GP practice. Citizens Advice IW takes calls about this on behalf of Healthwatch IW

 

13:00 - The charities Digital Team are checking the content on webpages and are up to date on local websites. IsleFindIt, the community directory, has more 1500 listings which need sorting

 

13:30 - The Money Advice team are helping a client on the phone with a debt relief order

 

14:00 - A Court Desk adviser sits with a client to prepare a defence for a hearing in two weeks’ time

 

14:15 - Partners delivering the Help Through Crisis project (including Citizens Advice IW, Age UK IW, People Matter IW and IW Food Bank) meet. The island is great for working together

 

15:00 - At Our Place in Freshwater a client with poor mental health is supported with various benefits applications

 

16:00 - One of the last calls for the day as an advisor speaks to a client who hasn’t been allowed to take time off work to look after their sick daughter.

 

16:30 - The phone line is closed but the website and Facebook pages are still busy with messages being left to pick up the next working day

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If you'd like independent, confidential advice, please call our freephone number on 0800 144 8848 or fill in our enquiry form