New to Involving Volunteers?

Gosport Volunteer Centre is able and willing to provide advice and guidance on the following issues:

References, Criminal Records Checks etc.

It is the responsibility of your organisation to ensure the suitability of a volunteer for a particular role, and instigate any checks as relevant or necessary.

Creating A Volunteer Task Description

It is important that all of the volunteers who come to help your organisation are clear on what they will be doing in a particular role.

What a Task Description Should Cover

When creating a Task Description for voluntary roles, it should include all of the following:

  1. Title of role or opportunity
  2. To whom the Volunteer is responsible (contact person)
  3. Who supports the Volunteer
  4. Location (where the role is based)
  5. Expected hours/times for volunteer – Minimum length of commitment?
  6. Expenses (Arrangements for giving expenses and details of mileage rates, meal allowances, etc)
  7. The purpose of the Voluntary Work, i.e. simple sentences such as (“To support members of the group to regain confidence or make new friends.”)
  8. The Main Tasks, e.g. (a) to make coffee, tea (b) to play board games (c) to listen actively to members (d) to support fundraising events by manning a stall (Include as many as you think necessary but try to keep it simple)

  9. Other Tasks, e.g. (a) to attend twice yearly Volunteer Support Meetings (b) to submit Expense Claim Forms on the last day of every month (c) to keep Confidentiality at all times
  10. Training Details of any essential training for the role
  11. Responsibilities To work within the organisation’s Equal Opportunities and Health and Safety Policy.
  12. Skills Needed What kind of Skills/Personal Qualities would the volunteer definitely need to have? This should not be a wish list or include skills that you could develop once someone had become a volunteer.
  13. Benefits How would a volunteer benefit from this role?

Having a good task description will mean that volunteers will know exactly what is expected of them and they will be able to decide more easily whether the opportunity is suitable for them.

A good task description also means that the person(s) who interviews the volunteer will have a framework to use when deciding whether or not the person is suitable and it gives value to the role. It can also help any paid staff to know how the volunteer role may complement their work.

It forms a basis for review of the volunteer’s performance.

Involving Young Volunteers

Gosport Volunteer Centre work in partnership with Solent Youth Action, who offer a tailored service to young volunteers, aged 16 up to 25.

With your agreement, we can offer your opportunities in partnership with Solent Youth Action so that they can respond to applications from younger volunteers.

Good Practice Advice

Gosport Volunteer Centre would highly recommend that the following procedures and practices are in place with your organisation when working with volunteers:

  • To respond to a volunteer's enquiry within 10-12 working days.
  • To have a named contact person for volunteers to get in touch with.
  • To have a fair and transparent volunteer recruitment policy.
  • To have clear, concise and well-written volunteer role descriptions.
  • To make it clear to volunteers about any expenses they can claim. (Travel/lunch etc.)
  • To have regular volunteer supervision (formal or informal).
  • To have a system or means of volunteer induction and training.
  • To have a Volunteer Policy with clear guidelines about inductions, training, support and supervision and how you will recognise volunteers’ contribution to your organisation.