What do volunteers do?
Almost anything you want to do or can think of! As a volunteer you will be giving your time to help charities and local community groups. You can volunteer to provide administrative support in an office, write a magazine, fix computers or sort stock in a local charity shop. The opportunities are endless. There are organisations out there you can join that cater for every interest and minority group imaginable.
What will Viva do for me?
We will discuss with you what it is you want to do and how we can help you to achieve this. We will answer any concerns or enquiries you may have, and help you to find a safe and supervised volunteering opportunity, where you will receive relevant training and professional FREE workshops if appropriate.
Will I need a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check? Do I have to pay for this?
CRB checks for volunteers are free. Viva will arrange for the check to be done if it is required, but this will depend on the type of volunteering you have chosen. For example, if you will be working with children then a CRB would probably be necessary. However, if you will be doing administration work in an office, a CRB may not be necessary. You will need to provide some documents for the CRB check but Viva will help you through the process.
Will volunteering affect my benefits?
No. Volunteering does not alter your benefits because volunteers do not receive payment.
The Jobcentre knows that volunteering can give you a much better chance of finding paid work. So, you can volunteer as many hours as you like while you are on benefits, as long as you still meet the terms for getting them. If you are claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance, this will mean that you still need to look for paid work. You must be free to go for an interview at 48 hours notice and you must be able to start work within one week of being offered a job.
If I agree to volunteer will I have a contract similar to an employment contract?
No. You should agree with the organisation what hours or length of time you can commit, and often this will be confirmed in writing as a Volunteer Agreement. Although this agreement is not legally binding, the organisation will rely on your commitment, so we advise that you consider carefully the time you can give as a volunteer.
What happens if I don’t enjoy my role? Can I leave if I don’t like it?
Firstly, do speak to your supervisor to let him or her know how you feel. If, however, you do not feel comfortable doing this, just contact Viva to discuss the problem. We will work with you to address the issue and, depending on the problem, we may be able to resolve it, or perhaps change your role at the organisation. If that is not possible, we would help you find something more suitable. If, however, you feel that volunteering is not for you, you are under no obligation to stay.
If, however, you feel that something is seriously wrong or someone is treating you badly, you should contact Viva straight away.
What happens if I need to stop volunteering?
If you are no longer able to continue with your placement, you should inform your supervisor as soon as possible so that alternative arrangements can be made. Please remember to let Viva know that you are no longer volunteering.
I work full time - but I would like to volunteer?
Volunteers are needed at weekends and evenings, or ask your employer if they have an Employee Volunteering Scheme. The amount of time you give is up to you - an hour or so every now and then or something more regular - you can volunteer to suit yourself.
How much time do I need to volunteer for?
This is really up to you. You can find volunteering that only takes an hour a month - there’s a trend towards short-term volunteering requiring minimal commitment. Having said that, obviously the less time you have the harder it can be to find something that’s right for you. You can volunteer at any time of the week, day or night. While much volunteering takes place in office hours, you can volunteer at evenings and weekends too, again depending on what you want to do. Typical volunteering out of office hours includes befriending, campaigning, the Samaritans, environmental and sports.
Will I be interviewed?
Most organisations are unlikely to give you a formal interview before they place you, but they will probably want to have an informal chat. However, if the role has some responsibility, for instance, for money, or if you will be working with people or with dangerous equipment, the interview may be more formal. In either case this gives you, and the organisation, a chance to assess each other and an opportunity to ask questions.
What will they ask me?
The sort of questions the organisation will probably want to ask you will vary from organisation to organisation and depend on the type of voluntary work you are interested in. However, a typical interviewer (formal or informal) may ask any of the following:
- why you are interested in volunteering
- what sort of voluntary work are you interested in
- what your particular skills are
- what new skills would you like to learn through your volunteer work
- how much time you have to offer
What can I ask them?
You can ask them anything that you feel unsure about. You may want to check some or all of the following:
- reimbursement of expenses
- training/qualification opportunities
- what variety will there be in the work?
- support/supervision (someone to talk to regularly about how you are getting on)
- how volunteering may effect my benefits, if you are claiming
An informal chat or interview can also give you an opportunity to look at where you will be volunteering and meet some of the other staff and volunteers. In addition to some form of meeting you may also be required to complete an application or registration form and in some cases provide references.
Can I get a qualification?
It's becoming more common for organisations to offer volunteers qualifications such as an NVQ, but it is still unusual. You may well learn a lot and gain valuable experience, skills and a reference though. If you do need a formal qualification, ask at interview, or contact your local volunteer bureau as they may know if any other local organisations offer qualifications.
