Trainee Money Support Volunteer

(Learning Pathway into Benefits & Debt Advice) 

Overview of the Role 

Are you passionate about helping people, keen to learn new skills, and interested in making a real difference in your community?
As a Trainee Money Support Volunteer, you’ll join our friendly and supportive Money Advice Team and begin your journey into the world of benefits, debt, budgeting, and financial wellbeing.

This role is designed for volunteers who want to gain skills, confidence, and experience, with the potential to progress towards future trainee or paid opportunities within the advice sector. You’ll learn from experienced staff, receive structured training, and follow a personalised volunteer development plan that supports you to grow at your own pace.

You’ll develop the foundations of high-quality advice work while helping women access the information and support they need to improve their financial well-being.

Volunteer Commitment 

To make sure you receive consistent learning and support, we ask for:

• Accrington: up to 2 days per week ( 1 day minimum)
  Tuesdays and Wednesdays  (either or both) – 9:30am to 2:30pm

• Burnley: Optional development days on Thursdays and Fridays (supported learning and shadowing opportunities)

We ask for at least a 6-month commitment, with flexibility around holidays, health needs, and other responsibilities.

What You Will Learn 

Throughout your placement, you will:

• Gain knowledge of Lancashire Women, our values, and how our Money Advice Service supports women across the county.
• Develop a solid understanding of benefits, debt solutions, budgeting, and energy advice.
• Build confidence working within a professional advice environment.
• Progress from observing and shadowing to supporting with low level enquiries.
• Experience what it feels like to contribute to real positive change in women’s lives. 

Main Tasks (as you progress through your development plan) 

Learning, Training and Shadowing

• Take part in on-the-job learning, shadowing experienced advisers, and completing self-guided training modules.
• Follow a structured Volunteer Development Plan, with full support from the team.
• Attend external training where appropriate (e.g., energy advice, budgeting support, introduction to welfare benefits).

Supporting Clients (with appropriate supervision) 

• Welcome clients into the centre and help them feel comfortable.
• Provide low level information such as budgeting packs, energy-saving tips, and signposting to other Lancashire Women services.
• Support advisers during client appointments (notetaking, form finding, assisting with documents).
• Gradually build up to supporting clients independently with simple queries, once competent and confident.

Service Support 

• Assist with triage by helping staff identify the right service for each client.
• Help maintain resources such as information leaflets, budgeting tools, and client packs.
• Support with simple administrative tasks such as updating records on CRM or preparing workshop materials (with training).

What We Will Provide 

As a Trainee Money Support Volunteer, you will receive: 

• Full induction to Lancashire Women and the Money Advice Service
• A personalised Volunteer Development Plan
• Regular supervision and check ins
• Opportunities to shadow qualified Money Advisers
• Access to training, including external courses where appropriate
• Experience working within a professional advice team
• Travel expenses reimbursed
• A welcoming, supportive environment that values your development
• Opportunities to progress into trainee or paid roles when available

What We’re Looking For 

You don’t need experience – just the right mindset. We welcome volunteers who are: 

• Friendly, compassionate, and good at listening
• Interested in learning about benefits, budgeting, debt and financial wellbeing
• Able to maintain confidentiality and act professionally
• Comfortable using computers (or willing to learn)
• Reliable and committed to attending agreed sessions
• Passionate about supporting women in the community
• Open to learning and personal development

General Expectations 

• Represent Lancashire Women positively at all times.
• Follow all safeguarding, GDPR, information governance, and confidentiality policies (full training provided).
• Work in a trauma informed, non judgmental way.
• Ask for support when needed — we are here to help you grow.
• Be flexible and understanding as part of a learning role.

Progression Pathway 

This volunteer role is ideal for someone who would like to:

• Build the skills needed for paid trainee roles
• Develop toward a formal advice role (e.g., benefits adviser, debt adviser, money coach)
• Gain meaningful, structured experience in a highly respected and in demand sector

Volunteers who complete the programme will be well placed to apply for future paid trainee opportunities, including our Trainee Money, Energy & Benefits Adviser roles.

Exempt under the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, and Part 1. Section 7(2) e of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975. This role is open to female candidates only.

 

About Lancashire Women

What We Do:
We offer a whole person approach to supporting women which is trauma informed and can be accessed directly by women themselves and / or through a referral:

We can help with :

Mental health issues and general health and well-being
Money Advice / Debt and wider welfare support issues
Getting into employment with coaching, skills development and confidence building
We also work in the prevention and rehabilitation of women connected to the criminal justice system with expertise in addressing multiple and complex unmet needs of women who have been moved from pillar to post across services and agencies.

What skills do I need?

You don’t need experience – just the right mindset. We welcome volunteers who are: 

• Friendly, compassionate, and good at listening
• Interested in learning about benefits, budgeting, debt and financial wellbeing
• Able to maintain confidentiality and act professionally
• Comfortable using computers (or willing to learn)
• Reliable and committed to attending agreed sessions
• Passionate about supporting women in the community
• Open to learning and personal development

When do I need to be available?

	Morning	Afternoon	Evening
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday

Details

To make sure you receive consistent learning and support, we ask for: Accrington: up to 2 days per week ( 1 day minimum) Tuesdays and Wednesdays (either or both) – 9:30am to 2:30pm Burnley: Optional development days on Thursdays and Fridays (supported learning and shadowing opportunities)

Where does this role take place?