Volunteering is defined as unpaid work for individuals who are not relatives or for charities and non-profit organizations. The document discusses motivating volunteers, rights and responsibilities of volunteers and organizations, legal requirements around volunteering including eligibility for Disclosure and Barring Service checks, reimbursement of expenses, and good practices for volunteer management such as inductions, training, and being aware of volunteers' needs. It provides contact information for further questions about volunteer training from the organization.

1. Working with volunteers
Trainer: Cathy Shimmin

2. Definition
Volunteering is doing unpaid work for an
individual who is not a relative or for a charity
or non-profit distributing organisation.
REMEMBER:
Volunteering is a reciprocal relationship.

3. • What motivates people to volunteer?
• Why do we need to know about this?

4. • What barriers are there to volunteering?
• How can we address these?

5. Rights and responsibilities
Set out what each party can expect in a
volunteers’ charter or agreement
• supervision arrangements
• training
• claiming expenses
• insurance status
• policies and procedures

6. Some legal stuff...

7. Remember to check proof of right to reside in
the UK
Generally, people legally here from overseas can be
accepted as volunteers.
NB This does not apply to people with a visitor
or student visitor visa.

8. Volunteer expenses
Must be:
• authorised by the organisation
• wholly incurred for the benefit of the
organisation
• necessarily and actually incurred in the
performance of duties
• supported by receipts or evidence where
possible

9. DBS checks
• Free for volunteers but the umbrella
organisation may charge an admin fee
Shop around
• Check eligibility.
If in doubt email an Application Eligibility
Enquiry to the DBS service

10. Good practice
• A well designed induction programme
• Be aware of volunteers needs
– Benefit restrictions
– Plenty of notice of meetings or extra duties
• Training adds value to volunteer experience

11. For further information about DSC Training please contact
Cathy Shimmin, Senior Training Manager
Directory of Social Change
07967 027304
cshimmin@dsc.org.uk
www.dsc.org.uk
An Independent voluntary sector at the heart of social change