Trevor Allsopp

• Instrumental in creating an employment rights advice charity.
• Managing the Centre and supervising and developing the activities of volunteers and staff.
• As the In-House Employment Solicitor I provided advice, information and acted as an advocate for clients.
• Created a positive and supportive environment and ensured excellent client care.
• Represented the Centre at meetings with outside agencies which included raising funds for the charity.

I am due to retire at the end of September 2025 as the Centre is closing.

• Providing advice and assistance, in person or over the telephone, on employment discrimination.
• Representing claimants in negotiations via ACAS and advocating in the employment tribunal.
• Designing and delivering training on discrimination to the voluntary sector.
• Representing the Law Centre on Birmingham Law Society’s employment sub-committee

• Providing tailored advice, over the telephone and by email, to clients with a wide range of financial problems, from complex to relatively straightforward, within a demanding work environment.
• Using effective listening and questioning skills to elicit essential information and gain clients’ confidence. Dealing with approximately 10-15 clients a day.
• Keeping up-to-date with changes in legislation, particularly regarding welfare benefits and money advice, to ensure comprehensive advice was always provided.
• As one of the more experienced members of staff acted as a mentor, providing advice and guidance to less experienced advisers.

• Responsible for organising daily advice sessions, overseeing the work of volunteer advisers and providing them with advice and guidance, within this busy city centre CAB.
• Ensuring that written communication sent by the CAB was of a high standard by checking all letters drafted by the volunteer advisers.
• Acting as an adviser with my own caseload, specialising in money advice and welfare benefits.
• Successfully represented clients at Social Security Tribunals and possession hearings at the County Court.
• Making full use of the CAB’s information system to quickly access relevant information to answer queries and provide accurate advice

• Advising local residents in a busy neighbourhood office on Council services and benefit entitlement.
• Using appropriate customer skills to deal with residents who were angry and frustrated at the level of service provided by the Council.

• Providing advice on welfare benefits, debt, housing, employment and consumer issues, regularly making a significant difference to a client’s situation, for example, by ensuring they claimed their full benefit entitlement.
• Representing clients at Social Security Tribunals, disciplinary hearings and advocated by letter and telephone on behalf of clients with a wide range of organisations.
• Playing an active role in managing the day to day work of the agency.
• Before working as an adviser I served as a member of the management committee and succeeded in obtaining National Lottery funding to allow this community advice agency to expand its service.

• Employed on a fixed term contract to work with a wide range of existing community groups and helping to develop new ones.
• Using my interpersonal skills and worked as an effective team member to respond to local needs. Helped set up a nursery, establish a police and community liaison group, supported the development of a local credit union and designed, published and arranged the distribution of a quarterly newsletter to local residents.

• Managing a busy accounts team of 12 members of staff, responsible for collecting and processing a large volume of financial information from over 300 sites throughout the UK.
• The work helped me increase my financial and business awareness.

• Performed a number of roles within the client servicing department, the IT department and the internal audit section. T
• The experience provided me with a thorough grounding in administration skills in this customer focused company, whilst allowing me to study my accountancy exams.

2005 – 2008 Kiira Kids International School, Uganda

• Established a small international primary school for ex-patriot and local children. Managed the day-to-day operations of the school, supervising the teaching and non-teaching staff, and developed and maintained the school’s financial systems

2003 – 2004 Mbuya Reach Out, Uganda

• Developed a micro-finance project to assist people living with AIDS to establish or expand money generating activities as part of a holistic approach to improving livelihoods.

1996 – 2001 Parks & Walcot Credit Union

• Worked with a team of local volunteers to register and then manage a community based credit union to help address the financial needs of people within the locality.

1992 – 1994 Swindon Citizens’ Advice Bureau

• Volunteered as an advice worker after undertaking the CAB training programme and provided general advice, specialising in welfare benefits and money advice.
• Represented clients at Social Security Tribunals and was elected as the volunteer representative on the management committee.