Volunteering FAQ

Q: What is a Volunteer Centre?

A: VAL's Leicester Volunteer Centre is part of a national network of Volunteer Centres that are recognised by Government.

Q: Why should I volunteer?

A: People have different reasons for volunteering, they may include:

• to help my community
• to meet people and make friends
• gain experience to help get work
• to get out of the house
• to try working in a different environment e.g. working with children/elderly
• to get a structure to my week
• to help people going through something I've experienced
• to give something back
• something to put on my CV
• time with other people
• feeling that I'm doing something worthwhile
• to find out what you'd like to do for a job
• to get training
• to get a reference

Any of these are good reasons to volunteer and if you are clear what your motivation is this helps you to find the right opportunity.

Q: What can I do as a volunteer?

A: Ths list is huge. You might want to go with something you already know or you might like to try something new. Don't be put off; don't think ‘well, I doubt I could do that'. The organisations involving volunteers are really just after your time and your energy. If they accept you as a volunteer they will offer training to learn about the role, and often the training is really interesting in it's own right. Here are a few examples:

• Administration - help an organisation with various office duties
• Media - design leaflets and posters for a charity
• Events - help plan and organise fundraising events
• IT - show other volunteers and staff how to use computers
• Environment - go out on a boat to clean up Leicester's waterways
• Sports - coach sports at after school clubs
• Mentoring - work with a young person to help with life's problems

This list is could go on hopefully it shows that whatever you'd like to get involved in, we can find you something to do!

Q: How do I start volunteering?

A: You can contact Leicester Volunteer Centre in a number of ways to help get you started volunteering. For further information click here to Contact Volunteering

Q: How much time do I have to give as a volunteer?

A: The great thing about volunteering is that it's so varied and flexible you can always find something to fit in with your life style. Before you start volunteering it is important to think about when, how often and for how long you can volunteer. Some organisations will ask for lots of commitment, maybe a couple of days training and then a few hours a week. Other organisations are more flexible and are happy to fit in with when you can give up time. There are also one off opportunities that require only a day or so of your time. If you really can't get out to volunteer, there's always volunteering over the internet! For further information click here to Contact Volunteering

Q: Will I get expenses paid?

A: Although volunteer involving organisations are encouraged to pay reasonable expenses to volunteers such as travel and refreshments, there is no obligation for them to do so. Any expenses that you feel you need to help you volunteer (such as bus fare to travel to your place of volunteering) must be negotiated with the organisation directly. For further information click here to Contact Volunteering

Q: Will I get paid for my time?

A: A volunteer is defined as someone who willingly gives up their time, without pay, to help people or the environment. As a volunteer you will not get paid for your time but usually you will be reimbursed reasonable expenses from the organisation you volunteer with, such as bus fare so that your volunteering does not leave you out of pocket (please refer to the setion on travel expenses above)

Q: Will volunteering affect my benefits?

A: Genuine unpaid volunteering should not affect any state benefits you receive. It is important that if you're on benefits you don't accept any payments other than having your expenses re-paid at the exact cost for example: if your bus fare is £2.80 you can accept £2.80, it can lead to problems for you and the organisation if they round it up to £3.00.

You will need to be available for interview with the Job CentrePlus if asked. If you are on Job Seekers Allowance you will still need to provide evidence that you are seeking paid work, are available for job interviews, and willing to take up paid work at a week's notice.

It is best to keep in touch with the Job Centre about your volunteering so that they know you are keeping to the rules and you know that they know your situation. For instance, if you are on Incapacity Benefit you need to be keeping to such hours of activity as a doctor has suggested is good for your health. (Advisors may refer to a long extinct guideline not to volunteer for more than 16 hours a week but in a welcome move the Government have completely changed their advice about volunteering while on benefits. They had said that:

• If on Jobseekers, and you were volunteering a lot, that might give the impression that you are not really looking for, or making yourself available for, employment. Now an opposite view is taken. If you are volunteering a lot you are keeping up you skills or developing new ones, and also showing that you have the appetite and self-discipline of going to work. 
• If on Incapacity, you do need to volunteer in accordance with any medical advice you have been told, but in general occupational therapists, GPs and community health workers believe volunteering aids recovery and can help manage pain, anxiety or depression. Do not ignore medical advice, but if you are being told medically that volunteering would be good for you, or at least not harmful, but the Job CentrePlus, or some other part of Government is giving you a different message, it is probably the latter that has not kept up with advice.

So, if you are on either of these benefits and are being discouraged from volunteering because you find that this message has not got through to everyone you speak to, do contact VAL.

For further information click here to Contact Volunteering

Q: Can I volunteer if I have a disability?

A: Yes, many organisations are fully equipped to deal with a variety of access and support needs.

Q: Can I volunteer with a criminal conviction?

A: You will need to declare any criminal convictions to the organisation that you volunteer with. If you are working with young people or vulnerable adults you will be asked to complete a Criminal Bureau Records check which will inform the organisation of your criminal record. It is best to be up front about any convictions this will not necessarily mean that you can not volunteer, but it may limit the type of volunteering you can do.

Q: How old do you have to be to volunteer?

A: There is no legal age limit, although organisations involving volunteers do tend to have a minimum and maximum age limit because their insurance policy does not cover certain age groups (such as under 16s and over 80s). Often, when they meet a volunteer who they feel offer something worthwhile, a phone call to their insurers can extend the age limit, but it is entirely a decision for them. VAL is willing to speak to a volunteer involving organisation about this subject if it is helpful.

Q: I've applied for a volunteer role but not heard anything, what do I do?

A: Patience is a virtue when it comes to volunteering. Often in small charities, the volunteer manager works part time or is a volunteer themselves. For further information click here to Contact Volunteering

Q: Do I need a Criminal Records Bureau check?

A: This will depend on the volunteer role that you are doing. If you are working with children or vulnerable adults, you can expect to be asked to complete a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check. This will involve you filling in a form giving your name, current and previous addresses and giving proof of who you are and where you live. This will be sent to the Criminal Records Bureau who will let the organisation know whether you have any previous criminal convictions. This should not cost you anything. For further information see our CRB Check Guide for Volunteers