Introduction to volunteering workshop marie godinot

Welcome to theVolunteering Workshop

• Lizzie Saunders/Marie Godinot

Aims of the Workshop• Gain Knowledge about how the local Voluntary &

Community Sector is structured• Understand how to get the best from your

volunteering experience• Become familiar with the sources of information

about volunteering opportunities• Raise awareness about the ‘application’ process• To help you plan your next step(s)

Workshop Agenda1. Getting to know one another

2. What is the local volunteering landscape like?

3. Why Volunteer? Why not volunteer?

4. The ‘Principles of Volunteering’

5. ‘Rights and Responsibilities’ of a Volunteer

6. The Volunteering ‘Journey’

7. How to apply to volunteer via do-it.org

Know each other

Know each other

Volunteering?

The UK does not have one common national definition of volunteering; generally it is

described as an “unpaid activity where someone gives their time to help an organisation or an individual who they are not related to.”

Volunteering Englandwww.volunteering.org.uk

Walking to raise funds for a Hospice

Mayor of London on volunteering

Success Stories

David -> accountant

Hendri -> ECVS

Sarah -> ECVS

Stephanie Rickaby -> CORAM Ealing

Why do YOU want to volunteer?• Caring nature • To gain qualifications and skills • To give something back /to get involved in the community • To meet people and reduce isolation• Being part of a team• For something to do/ reduce boredom • Sent by the Job Centre! • Strong beliefs (green issues/environment) • Gain references for CV/pathway to employment • Confidence and self esteem • Pass on their skills • Personal growth • Learn new skills • Meet people and make friends • To have fun • Learn new skills• Receiving training in specific tasks• Feeling good about yourself• Adding work experience to avoid career gap• Evaluating potential career choices• Networking

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Why people volunteer?Top Four Reasons 1. To help people2. Cause was

important3. Time to spare4. Want to meet

people and make new friends

Source: Institut for Volunteering Research

Benefits of Volunteering• Satisfaction of helping and making a

difference• Enjoyment• Personal achievement• Meeting people and making friends• Do what I’m good at• Broadens life experiences• Makes me feel needed• Gives me confidence• Learn new skills• Improves my health• Status within the community• Qualification• Improve employment prospects

What may prevent people from actually volunteering?

1. Not enough spare time2. Bureaucracy3. Worried about risk &

liability4. Don’t know how to

find out how to get involved

5. Haven’t got the right skills

6. Cost/expense

Why people volunteer?

We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give ~Winston Churchill

I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catchers mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back. ~Maya Angelou

The best way to find yourself, is to lose yourself in the service of others. ~ Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

The London Borough of Ealing

Statistics

• Population in Ealing = 305,300 • Voluntary & Community Sector Groups in

Ealing = nearly 1000• Number of people that volunteer (40%*) =

116000• *Citizenship Survey 2009http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/statistics/pdf/164191.pdf

Statistics41% of adults volunteered formally

giving unpaid help through a group, club or organisation

62% volunteered informallygiving unpaid help as an individual to someone who is not a relative

Source: 2008/09 DCLG Citizenship Survey

The Voluntary Sector

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What is a charity?An organisation:• Independent of government and business• Non profit-distributing• Self-governance• Voluntarism (money and/or time)• Provides a public benefit (beyond membership)

Source: The UK Civil Society Almanac NCVO

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Names?

• Voluntary organisations• Ngos (non governmental organisations)• Not-for-profit / non-profit• Community groups• Third sector• Independent sector• Civil society • Social enterprises

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The voluntary sector workforce

Paid workers 668,000 (539,000 FTE*)

Trustees (unpaid) 950,000

Volunteers 10.9m (at least once per month)

*FTE = full time equivalent

• It is estimated that of the 668,000 paid workers, 247,000 are part-time.

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What do charities do?

• Provide services (that no-one else does)

• Campaign (for a better world)• Offer information and advice• Counselling and advocacy• Fund other groups or individuals

(research, pilot projects, financial support)

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Different causes

• Social welfare• International development• Health• Arts• Heritage• Environment• Education

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Types of jobs – service providing

Care worker Youth worker Counsellor Housing worker

Social worker

Legal / benefitsadvisor

Advocacy support worker

Community worker

Day centremanager

Outreach worker

Help linemanager

Informationofficer

Family therapist

Policy analyst

Development worker

Programme/Project manager

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Types of jobs - infrastructureFinanceofficer

HumanResourcesmanager

ICTmanager

Administrative assistant

Accountant Trainingofficer

Databaseassistant

Receptionist

Accountsassistant

VolunteersCo-ordinator

ComputerServicesofficer

Central servicesmanager

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Types of jobs – fundraising & communications

Communityfundraiser

Trustsfundraiser

Trading manager

Internal communications officer

Events organiser

Donor developmentofficer

Shops manager

Publicationsassistant

Legacy campaignmanager

High levelDonordevelopment

Press officer Marketingdirector

CorporateSponsorship

Direct marketingmanager

Campaignsofficer

Website developer

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FundraiserGood communicationDatabase knowledgeGood interpersonal

skillsWorking to deadlinesAttention to detailResearch skills

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AdministrationGood organiserPeople managementGood communicator Problem solvingBudget management

The Volunteer Manager• Recruit the right volunteers with the

right skills• Train staff to work effectively and

cooperatively with volunteers• Orient volunteers to increase their

understanding of the organization, its clients, its services and the role and responsibilities of volunteers

• Ensure that volunteers are given appropriate training to be successful in their positions

The Principles of Volunteering• CHOICE

• DIVERSITY

• RECIPROCITY

• RECOGNITION

Your rights as a volunteer• To be given a clear idea

of your tasks• To have an allocated

supervisor • To be offered

opportunities for skills development• To be appreciated and

get recognition for what you have done

Money• You will not earn money

as a volunteer…• but you should get your

expenses paid for, including cost of travel and possibly meals.

• Some organisations also contribute towards childcare costs.

Your responsibilities as a volunteer

• Be on time and work the hours you agreed to

• Do your best• Follow advice and

directions from your supervisor

• Be willing to undertake training if necessary

How to get what you want from volunteering…

Understand what you want• Why are you

volunteering?• What do you like

doing?• When are you available

to volunteer?• Where can you get to

for your volunteering?

Get ready for the interview• Some of the more common questions on your motivation• General questions:

-Why are you interested in volunteering?-What do you know about volunteering?-Why do you wake up in the morning?-(Give 3 main factors)

Specific to the role and to the charity:-How are you interested in this role for this VO?-What is attracting you to this volunteer role?-What interest you most/least about this role?

Get ready for the interviewAbout the past:

-What do/did you like most/least in your current/past working experience?

-What frustrates you about a job/an activity?-Why have you left your previous jobs/volunteering roles?-What would make you leave the charity you are volunteering for?-Tell me about a time when you found it difficult to stay motivated.-Tell me about a time when you have had to keep yourself motivated during a difficult situation.

About future:-Where do you see yourself in 5 years?-How long do you envisage staying here in the UK/in Ealing?

Click on advance search

www.do-it.org.uk

Take Action: Make Contact

Ask questions Arrange to meet them

Take Action: Meet Them• Use the meeting to find out if

they are right for you (they’ll be determining if you are right for them!)

• Understand:– what they expect of you– what they can offer you

• Be prepared to say No• If all OK - agree a start date!And please ... let Volunteer Centre Ealing know how you get on

Start volunteering

Thank you!

Ealing Volunteer CentreFreephone 0800 652 3183

Why should I volunteer?

Ealing Volunteer Centre Ealing Community Resource Centre

63 Mattock LaneWest Ealing W13 9LA