VOLUNTEERING
Information & Resource Starter Pack
JANUARY 2010
Guidance Notes
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Index
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GUIDANCE NOTES
TOP 10 WEBSITES
WHAT IS VOLUNTEERING?
WHY SHOULD I VOLUNTEER?
HOW DO I GET STARTED?
WHAT CAN I EXPECT?
VOLUNTEERING DOS & DONTS
WHO VOLUNTEERS QUIZ & ANSWERS
WHAT KIND OF VOLUNTEER ARE YOU?
VOLUNTEER TYPES
CELEBRITY VOLUNTEER CROSSWORD & SOLUTION
ICEBREAKERS
SESSION IDEAS
VOLUNTEER’S BACKPACK
DISCUSSION POINTS
SAMPLE SPONSORSHIP FORM
CELEBRITY VOLUNTEER QUIZ & ANSWERS
Information on using the pack
The ten best sites to help you find out more about volunteering
First thoughts on what volunteering means for you
Good reasons to get involved
How to look for volunteering opportunities
Volunteering rights & responsibilities
Some hints & tips on getting it right
Which celebs volunteer & who for
Still can’t make up your mind? Take this quiz.
The type of volunteering opportunities that might suit you
Do you know about these celebrity volunteers?
Ideas for promoting values important to volunteering
Some quick ideas for getting your session off the ground
Volunteer’s backpack activity sheet
Some ideas to kickstart discussions on volunteering
If you decide to start fundraising for your own volunteer project
More celebs who give their time & effort for free
Top 10 Websites
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Do It is the ‘volunteering made easy’ website
Volunteering England is full of volunteering opportunities
Vinspired is the website for 16-25 year olds interested in volunteering
opportunities
Direct.Gov has excellent information if you’re thinking about volunteering
VSO offers volunteering opportunities across the world
Worldwide Volunteering offers volunteering opportunities from 14+
Become part of Kent's Volunteer Your Skills campaign
Your one stop site for finding Volunteer Centres across Kent
Don’t miss VSU Kent the leading youth volunteering agency for 14-24 year olds in
Kent
If you’re interested in volunteering for one off sport, leisure and cultural activities
and events then the Kent eVent Team want to hear from you
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What is Volunteering?
V
Variety
Lots of different things to do
O
Opportunity
Have fun and find out about work
L
Learning
Develop new skills and learn about
yourself
U
Unpaid
You won’t earn money
N
Need
Helping those who need your help
T
Training
Learn new skills
You can give something back to your neighbourhood
& community by volunteering on your doorstep – or
you might decide to help people in need around the
world.
E
Education
Earn a certificate or accreditation
E
Experience
It’ll broaden your horizons
R
Reward
A sense of achievement
A good way to think of volunteering is giving your time
and energy for free to make a real difference to a
community, the environment and day to day life.
I
Independence
Making your own decisions
N
Networking
Meeting new people
G
Giving
Saying thank you by giving your
time
Volunteering is an opportunity to:
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Help out
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Meet new people
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Develop existing skills and learn new ones
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Be part of a team
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Gain confidence and a real sense of achievement
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Try new things that you might not have the
opportunity to do otherwise
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Have fun!
based on an idea by Connexions Kent & Medway
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Why Should I Volunteer?
People volunteer for different reasons – you might decide to volunteer because:
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you might want to give something back to your local community or a particular group which helped you at a difficult time in
your life
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you might feel isolated and want to meet new friends
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you may be unemployed/looking for a new career/want experience to offer to prospective employers so want to learn new
skills and get some work experience
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you could have experiences and skills you’d like to pass on to others.
Recent studies show that people volunteer for the following reasons:
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CAREER – building your CV, developing new skills, gaining useful work experience
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ESTEEM – to feel better about yourself and to feel that you’re making a worthwhile contribution
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SOCIAL – to help other people who are less fortunate than yourself
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VALUE – to act on your beliefs about the value of helping other people
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PROTECTIVE – you might volunteer because you feel guilty that there are people who have less than you do, or because you
feel lonely
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UNDERSTANDING – to find out about other people and to learn about yourself
VolunteerMatch have 20 great reasons why you should volunteer – why not add your own to the list?
Wendy Saunders is a volunteer with Kent Wildlife Trust – find out more about why she volunteers
VSU in Kent offer an employer recognised award – a great incentive to get involved!
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How Do I Get Started?
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Find something you are really interested in and passionate about – think hard about your interests, personality & skills: for
example, you may like working directly with people so if you are volunteering in a shop make sure you are serving customers
not sorting donations all day.
Think hard about what you’re getting into: for example, you might want to volunteer to work with young children, but have
you ever spent a lot of time looking after young children? Be realistic!
Search volunteering opportunities on the websites listed in this pack (see Top 10 Websites and Additional Resources)
Talk to a youth worker or a Connexions advisor about volunteering opportunities
Contact your local volunteer centre for more advice and information about volunteering
Once you’ve found an organisation you’d like to volunteer for, arrange a visit so you can see if the reality matches your
expectations and do your research – find out as much about them as possible
Get an application form and prepare for an interview: if you need help filling out a form ask a youth worker to help you.
Then why not practice your interview skills by staging a mock interview? Some volunteering opportunities just require an
informal chat, but some may require a proper interview, so be prepared!
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What Can I Expect?
How much time do I need?
As much or as little as you like – a lot of volunteering takes place in office hours, but you can also find opportunities that take
place in the evening and at weekends.
Do I need any qualifications?
You won’t need qualifications but you may need certain skills. Volunteering is a great way to build on your skills, learn new ones
and even get accredited qualifications.
What will be expected of me?
You’ll be expected to:
– Respect others
– Not to discriminate against others
– To attend any necessary training and follow guidelines
– To aim to complete the commitment you’ve made as fully as possible
– Be as prepared as possible: do some research into the opportunity and any policies that may affect you
Do I need to do any special training?
You may get some specific training, depending on what the opportunity is.
What if I want to volunteer abroad?
Volunteering in another country can be immensely rewarding and challenging – you may see things that upset you, you may feel
homesick, you may fall ill. You’ll need to prepare physically and mentally for the challenge but what you get out of it will be an
experience you’ll never forget.
What are my rights?
You have the right to be treated as a co-worker (not just as unpaid help), to be promoted to more challenging tasks, to have your
opinion heard and to gain recognition for your achievements
Can I leave if I don’t like it?
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Yes, you don’t have to stay somewhere that you’re unhappy
Volunteering Dos & Donts
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DO think about why you want to volunteer.
DON'T start volunteering until you know exactly what is expected of you.
DO ask about the organisation and where you will fit in.
DON'T over-commit yourself. Reliability is vital.
DO make sure you know to whom you are responsible and to whom you can go for help and advice.
DON'T just leave the project because you are fed up, having problems, or feel you are being taken
advantage of. Discuss how you feel with the person in charge of the organisation/project first.
DO accept volunteer expenses. You can give them back as a donation to the organisation if you don't need
reimbursing. DON'T ever accept money as payment from someone you have helped in the course of
volunteering. Explain to them that they can make a donation to the organisation if they wish to do so.
DON'T carry out any job if it is against your wishes or principles. Discuss the situation with the person in
charge.
DO keep to any arrangement you have made. If you cannot keep an appointment, or you are going to be
late, let the volunteer organiser, or the person you are visiting, know in plenty of time.
DON'T betray any confidences entrusted to you as a volunteer.
DO keep in touch with The Volunteer Centre.
DO HAVE FUN!
Thanks to NCVS
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Who Volunteers?
Can you name these celebrity volunteers?
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Who Volunteers?
TOP ROW (FROM LEFT TO RIGHT)
PAM ST CLEMENT (Eastenders actress, Hearing Dogs for the Deaf)
BEAR GRYLLS (TV adventurer, chief scout)
MATTHEW PINSENT (Rower & TV presenter, Billion Minutes Volunteering Campaign)
MISS DYNAMITE (Singer, Billion Minutes Volunteering Campaign)
TRISHA GODDARD (TV Presenter, Home Start)
IAN BOTHAM (Cricketer, Leukaemia Research)
ALICE DELLAL (Model, Barnados)
MIDDLE ROW (FROM LEFT TO RIGHT)
JON SNOW (C4 Newsreader, VSO)
TREVOR NELSON (DJ, v)
DANIEL CRAIG (James Bond actor, RNLI)
BEN FOGLE (TV presenter, RNLI)
DAME KELLY HOLMES (National Osteoporosis Society)
BOTTOM ROW (LEFT TO RIGHT)
GORDON RAMSAY (Chef, Blood donors)
DAVID BECKHAM (Footballer, UNICEF goodwill ambassador)
DENISE VAN OUTEN (actress, Mothers4Children)
SIR ELTON JOHN (singer, PDSA)
SIMON COWELL (Music business, PDSA)
BONO (Musician, ONE AIDS charity)
PRINCE WILLIAM (Centrepoint Homeless Charity)
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What Kind of Volunteer Are You?
Which of these statements do you agree with – tick them and then see what kind of volunteering experience is right for you!
1
I’m a doer not a talker
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I like listening to other people
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I’m good at things like typing and filing and tidying
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I’d like to work with other people
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I don’t want to sit around in meetings – I want to get out and change things
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When I see people without enough to eat I want to do something about it
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I enjoy helping my friends to learn new things and solve their problems
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I love helping out with paperwork – paying bills and budgeting
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I’d like to have the opportunity to visit people who are lonely
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I like social, group activities best – doing things with a crowd
11
I like making and fixing things and being outdoors
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If I see somebody crying or someone whose having a problem I want to help out
13
Give me a practical task to do with 2 or 3 of my mates and I’m happy
14
I like to make sure that things get done properly – I get annoyed when they don’t!
15
I’m persuasive and good at getting people to support things I believe in
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Volunteer Types
If you ticked 1, 11 & 13
You’re a practical volunteer who would enjoy one off events like cleaning a beach, or building a community centre, conservation
volunteering or events volunteering where you can see the job through to the end. You like to get on with it and see an immediate
result.
If you ticked 2, 7 & 12
You’d enjoy volunteering in advice, counselling & education. You like to support people to get a fair deal and to lend a helping
hand in a crisis.
If you ticked 3, 8 & 14
You’d be happiest volunteering in an administrative capacity – you’re happiest behind the scenes, organising the running of the
organisation and making sure the job gets done properly
If you ticked 4, 9 & 10
You’d enjoy volunteering in fundraising or health & social care. You like to be with people, are interested in their welfare and like
to build good, supportive relationships.
If you ticked 5, 6 & 15
You’re role is as a campaigner & organiser. You like to tackle the cause of the problem and look for long term solutions.
If you’re a mixture of all these types then why not try volunteering for your local charity shop, or become a virtual volunteer?
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Celebrity Volunteer Crossword
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Across
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Surname of Matthew Pinsent's famous rowing partner Sir Steve
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_______ Goddard has a morning show named after her on
Channel 5
Radio station where Trevor Nelson started his career
8.
Gordon Ramsay presents 'The F ____'
9.
What is Prince William's brother called?
10.
Character Pam St Clements plays in Eastenders (3,7)
11.
David Beckham was playing for the American team LA _______
12.
How Sir Elton John referred to Princess Diana in his remake of
'Candle in the Wind' (8,4)
Ian Botham's nickname
Bear Grylls is now head of this worldwide organisation for
young people (6)
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15.
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Down
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14
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15
On which hugely successful music show is Simon Cowell a
judge? (1,6)
Daniel Craig's first film as James Bond (6,6)
Miss Dynamite appeared on this cookery reality show in 2009
(5,7)
Alice Dellal and Daisy Lowe recently volunteered for this
children's charity
At which Olympics did Dame Kelly Holmes win her gold medals?
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Crossword solution
Across
4. Surname of Matthew Pinsent's famous rowing partner Sir Steve REDGRAVE
5. _______ Goddard has a morning show named after her on Channel 5 TRISHA
6. Radio station where Trevor Nelson started his career KISS
8. Gordon Ramsay presents 'The F ____‘ WORD
9. What is Prince William's brother called? HARRY
10. Character Pam St Clements plays in Eastenders (3,7) PAT BUTCHER
11. David Beckham was playing for the American team LA _______ GALAXY
12. How Sir Elton John referred to Princess Diana in his remake of 'Candle in the Wind' (8,4) ENGLAND’S ROSE
14. Ian Botham's nickname BEEFY
15. Bear Grylls is now head of this worldwide organisation for young people (6) SCOUTS
Down
1. On which hugely successful music show is Simon Cowell a judge? (1,6) X FACTOR
2. Daniel Craig's first film as James Bond (6,6) CASINO ROYALE
3. Miss Dynamite appeared on this cookery reality show in 2009 (5,7) HELL’S KITCHEN
7. Alice Dellal and Daisy Lowe recently volunteered for this children's charity BARNADOS
13. At which Olympics did Dame Kelly Holmes win her gold medals? ATHENS
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Icebreakers
The purpose of all these icebreakers is to build co-operation and team spirit, so please use any team building icebreakers
SING TEAMS
Choose a song that the whole group knows – a nursery rhyme is good, ‘row, row, row your boat’ or ‘London’s Burning’ – and sing
in a 3 part round (first group sings the first line and continues to the end, after the first group have sung the first line the 2nd group
starts and continues to the end, then when they have sung the first line the 3 rd group start and sing to the end – you can keep this
going indefinitely!). Was the team work successful? Was it fun? Did it build a good spirit in each team?
COUNT TO TEN
Sounds quite straightforward – except there are a series of rules to follow which are:
• Each person can only say one number at a time
• No one can take charge of the group and direct them
• If you say ‘1’ the person next to you can’t say ‘2’
• If two people say the same number at the same time you have to start again at 1
HUMAN SCRABBLE
Divide the group into teams and give each person a letter to hold or wear (these can be completely arbitrary or already spell a
word). Now ask the teams to rearrange themselves to spell as many words as possible in a minute, with the session leader
keeping score. Words must be 3+ letters.
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Session Ideas
BRAINSTORM
Write the word ‘Volunteering’ on a flip chart, then invite young people to brainstorm and mind map what it means to them – try
to encourage positive associations.
VOLUNTEERING PROJECT - NEEDS ASSESSMENT
Ask the group to think of 3 examples of the following:
• Needs of young people at your centre
• Things that need to be done at your centre
• Things that need to be done in your community
Using these examples as a basis, try and develop a strong volunteering project that would benefit all 3 groups – young people,
centre & community
VOLUNTEERS BACKPACK
Ask the group to write down/choose pictures of the ten things they would take in their backpack if they were volunteering
abroad. Compare with this list from youvolunteer: diary (to keep track of your amazing experiences), phrasebook or dictionary (to
aid communication), CDs (you’ll usually find a CD player but may not find anywhere to plug in an MP3 player/computer),
something from home (a good way to show people what your culture is like, especially photos), clothes to get dirty in (you’re
more likely to be dressing down than dressing up!), a relevant gift (pens for a school or a football are likely to make making friends
a lot easier!), a party game (something easy and fun to play with your fellow volunteers), 3 books (1 to read, 1 to lose and 1 to
trade), ideas (make sure you’re prepared to get stuck in and make a difference), paper (there’s often a shortage so some thick
pads will come in useful). Some of the items have been left deliberately ambiguous e.g. what kind of books would you take
(phrasebook? Travel book? Fiction?)
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Volunteer’s Backpack
If you were volunteering overseas, what would be the 10 essentials you’d have in your backpack? Draw a line from the word/
picture to your backpack and then discuss your choices with everyone else!
Books
MP3 player
Ideas
Folding bike
CDs
Old clothes
Games
First Aid Kit
Camera
Something small from home
Laptop
Paper
Chocolates
A gift
Mobile
Familiar food
Sewing kit
Lighter
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Swiss Army Knife
Water
Discussion Points
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Why should people volunteer? After all, if you’re doing a job shouldn’t you get
paid for it?
What do you think about Government plans to introduce compulsory
volunteering?
What skills do you have to offer as a volunteer?
Research suggests that, in areas where there is a high level of volunteering, the
community as a whole is much happier. Why do you think this is true? And how
would you make this work in your own community?
You’re considering a volunteer placement in Africa. How important is it that the
project you will be volunteering with has strong policies on the environment and
ethical tourism?
What physical qualities would you need to volunteer as a lifeboat crew member?
As a salesperson in a charity shop? As someone building a school in India? As a
charity fundraiser? And what mental qualities would you need? Are these similar
for all these volunteering opportunities? Or do different opportunities need
completely different skills?
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