Volunteering with Advice NI

The Covid-19 crisis has meant that Advice NI has suspended all its face-to-face activities, including volunteering, for the time being. 

However, we have been able to adapt and involve our existing volunteers again as well as recruit new individuals for home-based and remote working roles.

In June this year Advice NI recruited several new volunteer call handlers to help deliver Phase Two of the Covid 19 Community Helpline. This home-based role involves taking calls from the public,   answering queries and making onward referrals to appropriate practical help and support. Our new volunteers were interviewed via Zoom and once recruited were provided with comprehensive training and support to allow them to undertake their roles successfully. They were also provided with the technical equipment required to be home-based.
 
Since the beginning of the year, Advice NI have been working on a Digital Inclusion Programme in association with the Housing Executive. The project is supported by the European Union’s PEACE IV Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).The aim of the programme is to provide digital inclusion training to community groups in three Local Area Networks (LAN) - Larne, Carrickfergus and Ballymena.
The six-week training course is free, will be facilitated by Advice NI staff via Zoom and participants will gain basic digital skills and learn about online safety.
 
Throughout the Covid crisis Advice NI volunteers have also worked on research, admin support as well as providing digital skills telephone support.
 
The help and support Advice NI receives from its volunteers is invaluable. The organisation continues examine and develop ways to involve volunteers as we adjust to a socially-distanced world for the time-being at least. For more information on volunteering with Advice NI please contact Laura McDonald, Volunteer Coordinator at Laura@adviceni.net or 028 9064 5919.