Community and advice work
This page has been designed to give a starting point for those looking into careers in Community and Advice Work.
You might also be interested in our information on Education advice and development
What is community and advice work?
Community and advice work encompasses a variety of roles across the public and voluntary sector. Community and advice workers help people of all ages to face a wide range of difficulties and challenges. They aim to give people the advice and support they need to change their own lives and move forward in a positive way.
Community and advice courses help you to develop transferable skills that you can apply in a range of positions and sectors (source - Prospects). The youth and community sector is changing rapidly and so the courses help you to develop transferable skills that you can apply in a range of positions and sectors, e.g. management and organisational skills, supervision skills, fundraising skills, advocacy, and campaigning in the community. (Prospects Community/Youth Studies).
Prospects
Prospects is a graduate careers website with job profiles, including advice worker, community worker, consumer rights advice worker, debt/finance adviser, employment advice worker, housing adviser, race relations worker, welfare rights adviser, youth worker
Targetjobs - Public service, charities and social care
Targetjobs is a graduate careers website with the following job sector information.
Other publications
The careers centre holds the following publications on reference:
- Initial Training Courses in Youth and Community Work, National Youth Agency (Falmer).
- Careers in Social Care, Kogan Page, Moss, B. (Falmer).
- Getting Into Housing, Trotman, Ounsted, D. (Moulsecoomb and Falmer).
How do I get into it?
Citizens Advice Bureau
This site contains information on volunteering at your local CAB, and includes downloadable information.
Chartered Institute of Housing - Choosing a Career in Housing (pdf)
This information sheet is specifically aimed at graduates who are considering a career in housing.
Skills for Justice
This site contains information on training and careers in areas such as probation, community safety coordinators, crime reduction officers and victim support services.
National Youth Agency
The NYA promotes young peoples' personal and social development and their voice, influence and place in society. The site includes a workforce and training section.
National Council for Voluntary Youth Services (NCVYS)
NCVYS is the only national independent body that represents voluntary and community youth organisations in England. They have have a wealth of information including and introduction to youth work and getting started and qualifications in youth work.
Finding a job or employer in this sector
Academic Institutions
Jobs.ac.uk
Jobs in academic institutions.
Advice
National Association of Citizens Advice Bureau (renamed Citizens Advice)
Citizens' Advice offers free, confidential, impartial and independent advice.
Alcohol and Drugs
Alcohol Concern
This site contains a recruitment page for Alcohol Concern and advertises jobs for the alcohol and drugs field as a whole.
Charity work - general
See also our guide to working in the not-for-profit sector
Housing
Chartered Institute of Housing
This page lists sources of vacancies.
Building
Building (formally known as Housing Today) is a weekly magazine for everyone involved in social housing in the UK. The website contains a jobs section with job search and email jobs facilities.
Inside Housing Jobs
Inside Housing is a magazine for housing professionals. This is the online jobs section.
Scottish Federation of Housing Associations
Choose 'jobsite' from the services section.
Public Sector Jobs
Guardian Society Pages
In The Guardian every Wednesday or on the website.
Jobs go public
A public sector jobs database.
LGjobs
Local government jobs.
Opportunities
Weekly newsletter specialising in opportunities in local government.
See also our guide to working in the public sector
Voluntary sector
See also our guide to working in the not for profit sector
Further information and useful links
Advice Services Alliance
The ASA is the umbrella organisation for independent advice services in the UK.
National Association of Citizens Advice Bureau (renamed Citizens Advice)
Citizens' Advice offers free, confidential, impartial and independent advice.
Chartered Institute of Housing
This site give an introduction to careers in housing as well as giving information on the roles of housing advice officer, arrears officer, tenant participation officer, neighbourhood officer and housing officer.
Comunity Development
Community Development Foundation
CDF supplies information on current issues in community development through several regular channels and contributes to innovations in public policy on community involvement.
Scottish Community Development Centre
This body promotes and supports best practice in community development throughout Scotland with the aim of building stronger and healthier communities.
Housing
Chartered Institute of Housing
This is a professional organisation for people who work in housing. The CIH is a registered charity and a non-profit making organisation.
Homelesspages
Information about publications and training on homelessness
Homeless link
National membership body for organisations supporting the homeless
Shelter
Shelter is a national campaigning charity for homeless people and for those in poor housing.
Youth Services
Community and youth workers council
National Council for Voluntary Youth Services
The NCVYS is the independent voice of the voluntary youth sector in England. NCVYS publish a 'Directory of Voluntary Youth Services'
National Youth Agency
The National Youth Agency can provide comprehensive information on all aspects of youth work and youth services. The site includes a library and information service.
Racial Equality
Equality and Human Rights Commission
This organisation works in the public and private sectors to tackle racial discrimination and promote racial equality.
Trading Standards