FAQ's
Frequently asked questions
What is volunteering?
Volunteering can be described in many different ways; lending a hand, giving something back, making a difference, being a good citizen or neighbour, helping out. It doesn’t really matter how you phrase it. Volunteering England part of the National Council of Voluntary Organisations describes volunteering as…
“any activity that involves spending time, unpaid, doing something that aims to benefit the environment or someone (individuals or groups) other than, or in addition to, close relatives. Central to this definition is the fact that volunteering must be a choice freely made by each individual. This can include formal activity undertaken through public, private and voluntary organisations as well as informal community participation and social action. Everyone has the right to volunteer and volunteering can have significant benefits for individuals.”
What do volunteers do?
Volunteers can get involved in a huge range of activities. We have many opportunities listed on our community engagement platform, Get Involved Coventry. For example you could help with conservation and gardening, business administration, PR and media or social issues and caring.
What are the benefits of volunteering?
As well as helping to make a difference to organisations and individuals that need volunteers there are lots of other benefits to volunteering:
- The opportunity to meet new people and develop new friendships
- The chance to build new skills
- An opportunity to share existing skills and knowledge
- To improve your CV and obtain a reference
- To improve your health and wellbeing
- Increase confidence
- To get involved and contribute to your local community
- To have fun
Who can volunteer?
Voluntary Action Coventry believes that everyone should be able to volunteer and will work with individuals to identify a suitable placement.
Inclusive Volunteering – we will work with other specialist agencies to support people with extra support needs such as learning difficulties, physical disabilities, mental health issues to find a suitable volunteering role.
Young people – we endeavour to meet the needs of young people that want to volunteer, however due to the nature of activity undertaken by some organisations, the clients they work with and the requirements of their insurance companies we acknowledge that not every opportunity will be suitable for under 18’s.
If you are under 18 and want to volunteer, please use the Advanced Search options on our community engagement platform, Get Involved Coventry. to search for roles by age suitability.
Asylum seekers and refugees
Volunteering is a great way for refugees and asylum seekers to gain new skills, meet new people and connect with new communities. In general most refugees and asylum seekers can volunteer however there are certain conditions that guide the types of organisations where asylum seekers can volunteer. For the latest guidance it is advisable to read Home Office guidance.
Claiming welfare benefits and volunteering
JobCentre Plus and other employment agencies recognise that volunteering provides opportunities that can enhance a person’s chances of moving into paid employment, such as; practical experience, opportunities to learn new skills and keep existing knowledge up-to-date, access to training as well as references.
Voluntary Action Coventry advises anyone who is considering volunteering and claiming welfare benefits to let their advisor know as soon as possible to ensure that the voluntary role complies with DWP requirements.
What to expect when volunteering
Most organisations will offer you an interview, where you can have an informal chat about the volunteering role and talk about what you hope to give/gain from the experience. The organisation might provide a tour around the buildings or areas where your volunteering activity will take place. This is your opportunity to ask any questions that will help you to decide if this is the right placement for you.
When you start volunteering you should expect:
- To have your out of pocket expenses reimbursed i.e. your travel costs to and from the place of volunteering
- To be informed of the organisations policies and procedures i.e. what to do if the fire alarm goes off, how to raise a concern etc.
- To be covered by the organisation’s insurance policies
- To be provided with suitable equipment/clothing to undertake the role.
- To receive support and supervision and to know who to ask for help and advice.
- Any training that is essential to ensuring you can fulfil the role.
- To feel part of the organisation and to have your views listened to
How can volunteering make a difference to my health?
Nationally and internationally studies have been undertaken that show how volunteering can make a difference to the health and wellbeing of those that volunteer.
A report from Volunteering England indicated that volunteering has a positive effect on volunteers health, it can impact on their:
- longevity
- ability to carry out activities associated with daily living
- ability to cope with their own ill-health
- adoption of healthy lifestyles and practices such as HIV prevention behaviours and healthy levels of drinking
- family relationships
- quality of life
- social support and interaction
- self-esteem and sense of purpose
- view of their own health
The review had also shown that volunteering reduced the incidence of:
- depression
- stress
- hospitalisation
- pain
- psychological distress.
You can read more about how volunteering positively impacts volunteers here
