Latest News
|
Thinking
of Volunteering ? A
step-by-step guide Tallaght Volunteer Bureau offers an advice, placement and support service to people who are interested in becoming volunteers. Our staff can help you identify the type of volunteering you would like to do. We can also put you in touch with organisations that need volunteer help. Tallaght Volunteer Bureau also offers advice, training and support to organisations that involve volunteers. If you would like to find out about volunteering, or if you want help with involving volunteers in your organisation, contact Tallaght Volunteer Bureau. This booklet outlines and covers some of the things you might think about before committing yourself to becoming a volunteer. It also covers points relating to what you should expect from your volunteering opportunity. The points and issues covered here are the sorts of things that volunteer bureau staff will cover if you talk to them about volunteering. WHY DO YOU WANT TO VOLUNTEER? Volunteering has a lot to offer people from all types of backgrounds and walks of life. People volunteer for many different reasons. Some of the reasons they may choose to volunteer are because they want to: ? Do something they really enjoy. ? Make use of special interests and talents. ? Learn new skills and develop new interests. ? Meet new people with similar interests. ? Make new friends. ? Find out more about a job or type of work which they are considering as a career. ? Have a chance to take some responsibility and make decisions. ? Gain valuable training and experience which may lead to paid employment. If you decide that you would like to get involved in volunteering, and you are not sure exactly what you would like to do, then think about WHY you want to volunteer. This can be a useful way of helping you to focus on the sort of volunteering you want to undertake. SOME QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF If you are clear about why you want to volunteer then you may have some idea about the sort of volunteering that you would like to undertake. There are, however, a number of other things which may influence the type of volunteering that you do. The following questions should help you to focus on the type of volunteering that you would like to do and how much time you can give. COMMITMENTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES ? How much time can you spare for volunteering? Remember your other commitments (family, hobbies, employment) and don?t over commit yourself. ? Are your circumstances likely to change in the near future? ? What period of time can you commit to volunteering? For example, one day? A month? Six months? Some voluntary projects require you to stay for a minimum period of time, so check before you decide on a project. ? How much time do you wish to commit to volunteering? For example, one day a month, one day a week, more or less? ? What times of the day are you free? Morning? Afternoon? Evening? ? What days of the week are you free? ? Do you have your own transport? If not, is it easy for you to use public transport to get to your place of volunteering? ? In what ways do you feel you can best contribute? ? What are your particular skills and interests? What do you really enjoy doing? ? Do you prefer to work with people or to do something practical? ? If you prefer working with people, is this on a one to one basis or in groups? ? 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? ? What skills and interests do you already possess? Many everyday skills are useful when volunteering. Make sure you don?t overlook these skills such as writing letters, decorating, talking, listening, DIY, driving, reading, shopping, sport, leisure and outdoor activities, entertainment, gardening etc. ? If you want to work with people have you identified a particular group of people with whom you would like to work? Many skills can be used with many different groups, but there may be some people you would like to work with more than others (e.g. children under 5, young people, the elderly, families, people in hospital, homeless people, people with physical disability or learning difficulty). SOME QUESTIONS TO ASK THE ORGANISATION Once you've found a possible placement it might be worth asking the following questions: ? Ask for a clear description of the work you will be expected to do. ? Who will show you what to do and supervise and support you in your work? Will you get supervision sessions or will it be less formal than that? ? What about expenses? Volunteers should not be out of pocket for the work they do. Ideally, though it won't always be possible, an organisation should cover expenses such as travel, lunch and childcare. ? What about insurance? eg. If you are doing driving, do you need tell your car insurance company? ? How often will you be expected to do voluntary work and for how many hours each time? ? How long is the volunteering likely to last? ? Who do you tell if you can't make it that week? TYPES OF VOLUNTARY WORK The range of voluntary work available is endless! Think of any activity or job and the chances are that someone, somewhere is doing it as a volunteer. Below are some of the types of volunteering opportunities that are available through Tallaght Volunteer Bureau and keep in mind this list is not exhaustive. Conservation, the Environment and Gardening Conservation volunteers repair footpaths, clear ponds and waterways, plant trees, build dry-stone dykes, create nature trails - the list is endless. The work can be done at weekends. You could help out at a community garden project or do simple maintenance for someone who is unable to look after their own garden. Learning Disabilities People with learning disabilities have difficulty understanding new or complex information, learning new skills or coping independently. Volunteers can: ? help with activities, sports and crafts and social clubs, youth clubs and resource centres. ? provide one to one support to families or individuals as befrienders or advocates ? assist at Summer playschemes for children with learning disabilities. Mental Health Mental health problems come in a variety of forms. Many involve feelings of depression, anxiety and confusion, sometimes to an extent which makes it difficult for the person to cope with everyday life. Only a small number of people experiencing mental health problems are admitted to hospital. Most are treated and supported in their community. Volunteers can: ? assist at drop-in centres and social groups by helping with activities, chatting to people or providing a listening ear. ? provide one to one support as befrienders or advocates Advice Work Volunteer advice workers offer confidential advice and information to members of the public. Some advice centres give a very wide range of information e.g. Citizens Information Centres. Others are more specialist e.g. working with homeless people or people with a disability. Advice agencies look for a long term commitment from volunteers. Training can last up to three months. Adult Basic Education Many adults and young people want to improve their reading, writing or numeracy. Adult basic education provides tuition in groups with paid and volunteer tutors. Volunteers must attend a training course and be prepared to give a long term commitment, perhaps helping once or twice a week for a least a year. Volunteers can: ? tutor people who have difficulty with basic skills. ? teach English as a second language ? help deaf students with language development ? help students who have a disability ? work with people who have speech and language difficulties as a result of a stroke. Fundraising Charities need to have diverse and imaginative ways of raising funds for their work. Volunteers can: organise or take part in sponsored events, street collections, fun runs, etc.; help in charity shops; be on a fund raising committee. Office Work Many organisations have an ongoing need for volunteers to do office administration such as reception, filing or typing. Others need volunteers to help out at busy times e.g. publicity campaigns or fundraising drives. Volunteers can do: ? reception and admin. work. ? financial or management committee tasks. ? computing ? 'one off' pieces of work such as setting up a database, producing publicity material or devising a marketing strategy. Older People Most opportunities to volunteer in this field are with frail older people or dementia sufferers, and are mainly in the daytime. They include; ? helping at lunch clubs or day centres - perhaps serving teas and lunches or assisting with quizzes, games and reminiscing activities. ? delivering 'Meals on Wheels' or library books to housebound people. ? befriending and home visiting ? helping in residential homes and hospitals e.g. reading to patients, playing board games. Homeless With people living in temporary or hostel accommodation, or those sleeping rough, volunteers can; ? help at drop in or night shelters, providing hot drinks and meals and giving support. ? be trained to give information and advice. ? work alongside paid workers in outreach work on the streets. Practical Some organisations need DIY / building volunteers to paint and decorate, carry out repairs or put up shelves. Befriending Befriending involves giving support and friendship to someone who may be going through a difficult period, is feeling lonely, or is adjusting to a major change in their life. Befriending schemes can support older people, lone parents, families with children under five, adults with disabilities or health problems. Volunteer befrienders are matched with a client (perhaps because they share an interest or are of a similar age). They meet on a regular basis, perhaps to go shopping or go to the cinema, or simply to have a chat over a cup of coffee. Befriending may aim to encourage the client's independence, build their self confidence or offer social contact outwith their immediate family. Befrienders are carefully selected and trained and receive ongoing support. Physical Disability ? Volunteers can work with groups dealing with specific conditions such as arthritis, cancer, or epilepsy or with more general disability organisations. ? provide one to one support as a tutor, befriender or peer counsellor. HIV/Aids/Drugs With individuals and families affected by HIV AIDS or drug dependency, volunteers can; ? help out at a drop in or information centre. ? be a befriender in a 'buddy' scheme. ? Provide practical help such as gardening, driving, baby sitting, or painting and decorating. ? participate in preventative, educational and awareness raising work. Driving Many disabled or older people are unable to leave their homes due to a lack of suitable transport. Volunteer drivers provide a vital service helping them to get out and about, perhaps to a day centre or social club. Some organisations have their own vehicles whilst others need drivers with their own car. Perhaps the best known volunteer drivers are the 'Meals on Wheels' fleet. The insurance requirements of organisations may differ, but usually a volunteer has to be aged over 23 years and have a clean driving licence. Minibus drivers may be required to sit a test. Volunteers using their own car will normally be paid petrol expenses. Hospital Work ? visiting and befriending patients. ? helping in hospital shops. ? providing trolley and library services. ? escorting patients on outings. ? helping with social activities. Children and Young People ? Creches and playgroups for under fives. ? 5 - 12 years - after school clubs, junior youth clubs and holiday playschemes helping with games, arts and crafts, music and sport. ? 12 years plus - youth clubs and "drop-in" centres providing varied social, leisure and outdoor activities, as well as 'issue' based work e.g. Health promotion or drugs awareness. ? One to one support for children who are experiencing difficulties at school or at home. There are also well know youth organisations such as the Scouts and Girl Guides Volunteers working with children must be prepared to undergo a Garda check. Other Areas of Volunteering Include: ? support for victims of crime ? work with ex-offenders ? telephone helplines ? bereavement /relationship counselling ? mediation services Residential You may wish to get involved in voluntary work and actually ?live in?. For a comprehensive list of residential opportunities in Ireland, please visit our website @ www.volunteertallaght.ie Team Volunteering Groups of friends or colleagues can get together for a one-off volunteering project, say painting a mural, creating a wildlife garden, decorating premises or organising an outing for a group of people. A VOLUNTEER As a volunteer you are offering your valuable time, energy and skills to an organisation - free of charge! There are basic conditions which you should expect of the organisation you are helping with, and there are also reasonable things that the organisation should be able to expect from you. Below are some guidelines about what these things might be. A CLEAR IDEA OF WHAT YOU WILL BE DOING Groups that take on volunteers should be able to give the volunteer a clear idea of what they will be doing before they begin their volunteering assignment. This can come in the form of a job description, a volunteer position description or an assignment summary. Most organisations meet with or interview potential volunteers before they begin their volunteer assignment. This meeting will usually be an informal two way ?interview? or chat. The person will be trying to find out if you will fit in. You should try to find out whether the organisation/ project is what you imagined it to be, and whether you really want to be involved with that particular organisation/project. Any questions that you may have about your job description or role could be asked at this stage. Some of the questions that you might ask on your first meeting/visit to the organisation might be: ? What exactly will I be doing? ? Is there anything that I will not be allowed to do? ? How many hours will I be expected to commit myself to and when will these hours be? ? Will I be working alongside lots of other people or mostly on my own? ? Are there any particular skills which volunteers are expected to have? ? What kind of training do you offer? ? When will any training take place and how much of my time will it take up? ? How soon will I be able to start? TRAINING |