FAQ: I want to volunteer
Mark Restall, a Senior Information Officer at Volunteering England answers your most common questions about volunteering.
I want to volunteer - what do I do next?
Before contacting organisations it is a good idea to think about what you would like to do in terms of the activity and type of organisation you would like to work for. Also consider how much time you are able to give up.
When it comes to finding current volunteering opportunities you can either:
- Search do-it.org.uk's online database of volunteering opportunities
or: - Get in touch with your nearest local volunteer bureau.
Can I be paid something to cover my expenses?
Yes, you can. It's a good idea for organisations to cover all your extra expenses that arise from volunteering. That includes the cost of travelling to the volunteering and meals while volunteering.
Unfortunately not all organisations do pay expenses. This could be because they don't have enough funds or simply because they don't realise that volunteers should be paid expenses. Before starting your volunteering, ask about expenses.
How much time do I need to spend volunteering?
This is really up to you. You can volunteer at any time of the week, day or night. 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.
Will I be interviewed?
Most organisations will probably not formally interview you 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.
The sort of questions the organisation will ask you will vary, depending 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 are your particular skills?
- what new skills would you like to learn through your volunteer work?
- how much time do you have to offer?
You can ask them anything that you feel unsure about. You may want to check some or all of the following:
- whether your expenses will be reimbursed;
- what opportunities exist for training or gaining qualifications;
- what variety there will be in the work;
- if you will have support or supervision;
- how volunteering may affect your benefits, if you are claiming.
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 leave if I don't like it?
Yes, of course. You are under no real obligation to keep volunteering for an organisation that you unhappy in. However, it is always worth talking to somebody about this first. This could be your volunteer co-ordinator (if there is one), your supervisor or someone who you have got on well with. You can then discuss with them why you feel unhappy and what you feel would improve your time as a volunteer in the organisation.
It is also something you may want to talk about with other volunteers in the organisation. You could either do this informally, or if your organisation has a Volunteer's Council or a regular meeting that all volunteers attend, you could bring up your problem there. If you feel that something is seriously wrong or someone is treating you badly it is also worth checking whether your organisation has a complaints procedure.
I'm working full-time. Will I still be able to volunteer?
Yes, there are many opportunities to volunteer that do not require you to be available Monday to Friday during the day. Many organisations would love to find volunteers that are able to volunteer evenings and/or weekends.
Some examples of out of office hours volunteering include: campaigning, the Samaritans or other helplines, working with homeless people, befriending, environmental and sports activities.
It is important to check out what time commitment the organisation has in mind. You will need to work out how many hours you can offer and for how long you wish to volunteer.
What do volunteers do?
Almost anything. You can volunteer to rescue people from mountains, to farm organically, build houses, write a magazine, judge criminals as a magistrate, or fix computers. There are organisations out there you can join that cater for every interest and minority group imaginable.
Will I get training?
You need to ask your organisation this, as it varies a lot. Some organisations offer substantial training and support, but others don't and expect you to learn on the job or contribute existing skills.
It also depends on the type of work you will be doing. So if you're spending one day clearing overgrowth from paths, expect about 15 minutes at the start being told what to do, how to use the tools and what health and safety precautions to take. But if you volunteer to give welfare benefits advice you should get much more training.
Do I need qualifications?
Usually you don't. Some very skilled work may demand qualifications, but usually organisations offer training to enable you to do the work.
Can I get a qualification?
It's becoming more common for organisations to offer volunteer 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 the interview, or contact your local volunteer bureau as they may know if any other local organisations offer qualifications.
Can I volunteer with my family or friends?
Yes you can but you won't have such a large choice as if you were completely flexible. Some volunteering is usually done in groups, so two or more people could easily join together. Examples are practical conservation and fundraising.
Can I claim benefits while volunteering?
Yes, you can. The benefits regulations are clear that you can volunteer.
For detailed and up-to-date information on volunteering whilst you are claiming welfare benefits read Volunteering England's advice about volunteering and state benefits.
I want to be a social worker. How can I get experience?
Volunteering can be an excellent way of gaining experience in social work or working with vulnerable people. Community Service Volunteers (CSV) place volunteers with social service departments and in other personal care roles.
Some Social Services departments take on volunteers, but you'll have to contact them directly. There are also many other organisations working in the health and social care field that involve volunteers in frontline roles, for example hospitals, hospices, and organisations of or for disabled people. For more information, read Volunteering England's advice about volunteering in health and social care.
Can I volunteer full-time and get living expenses?
You can, but only under certain circumstances. Most residential voluntary work offers board, lodging and some form of pocket money. This work can be for a week or two or a whole year.
View Volunteering England's residential volunteering opportunities page for more information.
How can I volunteer overseas?
There are two broad types of overseas volunteering:
1. Volunteering for at least a year, by people with a professional skill in demand for overseas development, for example medicine or construction. Such volunteers typically receive flights, accommodation and a local wage. The aim is usually to pass on skills so local people are more self-sufficient when the placement ends.
2. Volunteering for anything from a few weeks to a year by people without relevant professional skills. For this type of volunteering you will usually have to fundraise a substantial amount, perhaps as much as £2,000, though some projects are far cheaper. In return you will take part in what many see as an exciting chance to experience something completely different and gain an understanding of another culture as well as of yourself.
For both types of volunteering it is best to apply well in advance. There are over 100 British organisations specialising in arranging overseas volunteering offering a choice of either a particular country or type of work. Not all projects are well organised, so find out as much as you can beforehand by asking these questions:
- Does the project provide travel, accommodation, food and pocket money?
- What is the minimum length of time?
- Do I need particular skills?
- Does the project expect any religious commitment?
- Can I speak with volunteers who have returned from the project to find out how they found it?
It is possible to travel to a country and then find voluntary work. However, you should check first if there are visa restrictions for volunteering and bear in mind that it can take many weeks to be selected onto a volunteer programme.
Article produced by the Choose Action Alliance.
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