If you decide volunteering is right for you, the first step should be to come and talk to us.
During an informal interview we find out what sort of work you are interested in taking on, what kind of commitment and skills you can offer and discuss different type of voluntary work which may be suitable. This is also your opportunity to ask any questions or queries you may have about volunteering.
During the interview or afterwards we will give you information about organisations and volunteer opportunities which we feel are best suited for you. When you have chosen which opportunity you want to have a go at, we'll arrange for the organisation to get in touch to arrange a taster session, training, induction or start date.
We maintain a register of volunteer opportunities across the borough. We currently have more than 150 opportunities so there is bound to be something to suit most needs.
So why wait???
In the give and take of volunteering you are bound to get something out of your time helping others. But to enable you to make the most of your volunteering it is important to get the right sort of work, so we like potential volunteers to think about the following...
- How much time can you spare for volunteering? DON'T OVER-COMMIT YOURSELF!
- If you are unemployed and signing-on, consider how much time you spend looking for work and the day that you need to sign on.
- Are your circumstances likely to change in the future?
- How much time do you want to commit to volunteering?
- When are you free to volunteer?
- Do you need to arrange childcare?
- Can you get there?
- Do you have any particular skills, interests or qualifications to offer? Think about what you want to get out of the volunteering and what you enjoy, also what type of work you would like to do.
- If you want to work with people, is this in a group or on a one-to-one basis?
- Are you fully aware of what you might be 'letting yourself in for'? If you want to work with small children have you ever spent a day with noisy, boisterous, children? Or if you want to work with the severely disabled have you ever done this?
- Would you prefer to do something you have already done, using skills you have already acquired or would you prefer the challenge of doing something new?
- Do you enjoy handling a crisis or do you end up in a panic yourself?
- What skills and interests do you already possess? Many everyday skills are useful when volunteering. Make sure you don't overlook these skills?
- If you want to work with people, have you identified a particular group of people with whom you would like to work?
