Anyone can volunteer. We would love to hear from you if you are interested in volunteering with us. All you need is a desire to support those needing help in your local community. We do whatever we can to make sure your role matches your interests and skills.
We do, though, urge anyone who has recently lost a loved one to think very carefully before volunteering with us and recommend waiting at least a year before applying.
Volunteering may involve working people when they are highly vulnerable, so we do carry out some background checks.
To start off with, in your application we will ask for some basic information on you and also for the contact details of two people who can provide references, such as a work colleague or friend.
If your area of volunteering requires a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check under the Care Standards Act 2000, we will ensure that the necessary form is completed and pay any charge that may be due.
Volunteering in this area is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 due to the sensitive nature of the duties involved, so we will ask you to complete a declaration on any criminal convictions, cautions, reprimands, final warnings and any other information that may affect your suitability for voluntary work.
Yes, all volunteers will be provided with training and support relevant to their role, which normally includes attending a short preparatory course and we will continue to provide you with ongoing assistance, support and guidance.
Yes, volunteers can claim for mileage, parking and other expenses necessitated by the role. If you use your own car, we will pay you the standard mileage rate approved by HMRC (currently 45 pence per mile). Parking, speeding or other fines will not be reimbursed.
If you are joining one of our committees, you can normally start straight away. For other roles, it usually takes around 3-6 weeks from the date of your application, although this may vary depending on your role and area of work.
The is a huge amount of information about volunteering, try the following:
Public Health VolunteeringNHS Volunteering
NCVO