Temporary council work... official MoneySavingExpert.com discussion

You can also apply to register as a temporary relief worker through Education, Social Work & Community Services. Once accepted, your 'contract' does state that the council cannot guarantee you work, but it is always another 'string to your bow' and there's usually work available during school holidays. It does take a couple of weeks for payments to reach your bank, so this isn't a quick-fix solution, but it can earn you a decent residual income over the year, especially if you include unsociable hours and weekends. I can highly recommend it

I am currently working for my local council's electoral office as an 'Electoral Canvasser'. This involves visiting about 250 local properties who haven't returned their electoral registration form. I have to visit between 19-28 October and help people fill in the form (unless there are any major changes, it usually takes less than a minute as it is mostly pre-printed with last year's info). I will get paid £40 to attend a 1 hour training session, £10 travelling expenses, £10 phone expenses (you would only use the phone to call the Council offices with any queries), £20 for 2 hours' admin work and £10 per hour visiting houses (we are allowed to work up to 28 hours). For safety reasons, you are not allowed to enter houses and the council will have someone working through the weekend and evenings in the offices for any queries etc. Obviously this involves working weekends and evenings when more people will be at home.

As far as I know, it is now the law (from last year) that this has to be done every year.

I have also done electoral counting in the past. I have always enjoyed this during general elections although you have to work into the early hours of the morning, it it a good atmosphere with all the candidates and local tv and radio there. However local elections can be a bit of a drag with a lot of waiting around for voting slips to be delivered from the polling stations. However you are getting paid to sit around! I might try and put my name down for a polling clerk next year as it is good pay but a lot of people want to do it.

I am a Council employee although my job doesn't involve anything to do with the elections office. I usually find out about these jobs through our work email. However, I do know that the Council also employs outside people (including a lot of retired people) but I have never seen the jobs advertised. I think people must contact the elections office and ask for their name to be put down.

So what department would i write to at my local council and what sort of thing would i need to say - like do you send a CV or just state you are willing to help in vote counts etc?

There should be a section about working at elections on your local district council website, normally www.<yourdistrict>.gov.uk. Most have an a-z index of services and it will come under something like electoral services

A_little_stressed!! wrote: »

Are we due a vote soon??

yes we are-May 1st/2nd if I am right.
I had applied for doing temp work for postal vote counting/polling station clerk etc.
I never got chosen for any of tehm as they only give priority to employees of the Council.