Volunteer Volunteers & Trustees

What will you be doing?

Crosspoint is a charity based in Westbury, Wiltshire and has been in operation supporting people in the local community for 12 years. Due to significant growth in people coming into our Welcome Centre in the last year, we are now looking to recruit new volunteers to join our team. We are open 4 half-days per week: Monday & Wednesday afternoons and Friday & Saturday mornings. As a volunteer at Crosspoint, you will work with clients on a range of issues including helping them complete forms, understanding official communications, phoning official bodies on their behalf. Two volunteers are always on duty together during each drop-in session to help and support each other. It is a very good opportunity to extend your knowledge of a wide range of issues relating to government departments and public sector organisations. There is also an opportunity for volunteers to become a Trustee, working as part of a management team deciding on the future direction of Crosspoint, and helping with the behind-the-scenes tasks essential to the operation of the charity. For an application form, please contact us via Reach.    Kevin Fairman Chair, Crosspoint

What are we looking for?

Good listening skills and empathy with people struggling with life issues.  Many of the people that come into our Welcome Centre are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis and have a number of issues they need support from our volunteers to work through and prioritise.  Any experience with benefits and government forms would be very useful. Specifically, Personal independence Payments (PIP), Attendance Allowance, Carer's Allowance, Pension Credit, Blue Badge applications, etc. People who have not previously interacted with the benefits and/or social care system, often need help navigating their way through the various systems and guidance available.  Sites such as Turn2us or Citizens Advice are very helpful, but if people have low levels of literacy and numeracy, this can be very daunting. We spend as long as is needed with each person, working at their pace and on a face-to-face basis. 

What difference will you make?

To help people in the local community looking for support with dealing with government and other agencies.  They may also be struggling with the cost-of-living crisis and at risk of becoming homeless.