Can you Help ?
There are many ways volunteers can help and the list of the jobs varies from place to place. This is because volunteers are needed all over Grantham to help with different needs. For example, some volunteers help in hospitals, and others work in towns and villages. To give you an idea of the sort of things volunteers have done and continue to do, we give a selection from our list of jobs.
Visiting patients in hospitals
Running social clubs in the community
Befriending patients in hospital and at home
Helping with outings and social events
Reading to the blind
Demonstrating skills in arts and crafts e.g. flower arranging, photography, painting, guitar playing etc
Driving-bringing relatives to visit patients in hospital or taking patients on outings
Assisting with gardening/decorating projects
Running a hospital tea bar
Fund raising
Broadcasting on hospital radio
Helping with literacy skills
The amount of time you give is up to you, some volunteers give several hours a week and others one or two a month.
There are opportunities for volunteers of all ages and for some it can be a chance to gain useful career-related experience (i.e. for students). Volunteers travel expenses can usually be met.
Volunteering can offer the chance to learn new skills, use your existing skills and experience, develop new interests, meet people, become active in bringing about social change and opportunity to get involved.
Volunteer Bureaux enable people to do voluntary work.
Volunteer Bureaux contact local organisations who involve volunteers and collect information on these organisations and on the volunteering opportunities available. Bureaux also work with these organisations to develop new volunteering opportunities.
Volunteer Bureaux offer an advice and placement service to people who are interested in becoming volunteers.
Volunteer Bureaux offer advice, training and support to organisations who seek volunteer help. In this way Bureaux try to ensure that volunteers are not discriminated against and that volunteers are supported in their voluntary activity .
Grantham Volunteer Bureau is committed to equal opportunities, and believe that volunteering should be open to all sections of the community, and work to ensure that anybody wanting to volunteer is able to do so.
There are over 300 Bureaux who are members of NAVB throughout England, Wales and Northern Ireland Scotland has its own network of Volunteer Bureaux
Volunteer Bureaux are most likely to be based in urban areas, but around 40% of Bureaux cover rural, or partly rural communities.
Voluntary Bureaux recruit and place volunteers into LOCAL voluntary projects and activities.
Grantham Volunteer Bureau can put you in touch with many types of community or voluntary organisations who involve volunteers. These include : Black and Asian community groups, campaign groups, environmental organisations, animal welfare groups, counselling and advice agencies, local and national charities, youth groups and many more.
The range of volunteering opportunities available is vast. For example, volunteers may work with children, families, elderly people, teenagers or people in middle age, they might work with people who have a physical disability or mobility difficulties, a learning difficulty, or mental illness. Volunteers might also work with people who are sick, homeless, victims of crime, bereaved, drug or alcohol-dependent ,or who are prisoners or ex-offenders.
Grantham Volunteer Driving Scheme provides transport for the elderly and disabled people who are housebound because they are unable to use public transport is provided by volunteers who use their own cars but get paid a mileage allowance. They give their time.
Did you Know ?
Three quarters of employers prefer to recruit candidates with volunteering experience on their CV, according to research carried out by Reed Executive, recruitment consultants, on behalf of volunteering charity TimeBank. The research also shows that 60 per cent of employers are more likely to promote and give pay rises to employees who have donated their time.
Starting Work
There should be no unexplained delay between offering your services and staring work. If you are not suitable you should be told why and be offered alternatives.
Introduction
Full information on the organisation and where volunteers fit in should be given at the start.
Only relevant information should be requested from you during selection. you should be told why it is needed. Anything in writing should be kept confidential.
Equal Treatment
No discrimination on race, sex, sexuality, age, class, disability or history of illness. You must not in turn discriminate against others.
Work Details
You should be given a clear description, in writing , of your job and how your work will evaluated. You should not be given tedious and repetitive tasks. Hours of work should be agreed in writing.
Supervision
You should be told to whom you are responsible. You should be able to approach them to talk through any worries or problems.
Health and safety
You should not work in unsafe or unhealthy conditions. There should be a heath and safety policy which which meets legal requirements.
Insurance
The organisations should insure you adequately
Genuine Voluntary Work
You should not be asked to do work which someone has previously been paid to do, unless agreed with the union concerned.
Clothing and Equipment
Any special clothing or equipment needed for your work should be provided.
Time off
You should get time off (e.g. for holidays or an emergency)
Trade union Membership
You have the right to join a Trade Union.
Training
You should be given the chance to train, to develop the skills you need. If you have particular skills, make sure the organisation know. You should be consulted over changes in your work, and involved in the general life of the organisation.
Expenses
Expenses incurred for your work (e.g. travel or phone calls) Should be reimbursed
(NOTE: this should not affect state benefits, if you can prove the expenses were genuine. Or if you are on invalidity benefit or Severe Disability Allowance, check with your Volunteer Bureau and your Doctor). Remember - some organisations cannot afford to pay volunteer expenses, check this before you start.
Review and development
Your work should be reviewed after a few weeks, then again at regular intervals, making changes if necessary. The review should involve you and those with whom you work closely. Your work should develop as your skills grow.
References
You should be able to receive a reference on the basis of your voluntary work.
Satisfaction
If your work isn't satisfactory, ask yourself why. A small change in your work could make all the difference. If there are still problems, contact the volunteer Bureau to see what else is open to you.
