 | | Voluntary Community Service | | The Cardiff Volunteer Centre |
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I would love to volunteer,
but...
I would love to
volunteer, but it would take up too much of my time...
It needn’t. At VCS we have over 340 voluntary
opportunities of which a tiny minority ask for a substantial time commitment.
Most however are very satisfied with volunteers who can offer a minimum of a
couple of hours per week and some just want to add your name to a list of
volunteers who will help out whenever they can.
I would love to volunteer, but what if I don’t
like it? I’d hate to let anyone down...
The best way to find out whether you’d like it may
well be to talk to VCS about your reservations. We may be able to put your mind
at rest with the issues and concerns you have and a chat with the project
organiser may settle the rest. It is often possible to try volunteering on a
trial basis while you and the charity discover whether or not you are
compatible. However, if all else fails you can always explain that it’s not
working for you and leave at any time. After which you can come back to VCS to
try something else, having learnt from the experience.
I work unpredictable hours and am often only available during evenings and
weekends...
Most of our opportunities do operate during normal
office hours but we also have a number who need volunteers specifically during
the evening and at weekends. Similarly it’s true that many charities are looking
for volunteers who can make a regular time commitment but not all are. Some are
happy to add you to their list of volunteers who they can contact for help as
and when they are needed, they don’t mind if you can’t help on a particular
occasion – they just keep working down the list. Others may be able to involve
you in a project that you manage for yourself – you’d do the work when it suited
you as long as it was completed by an agreed deadline.
I would love to volunteer, but I couldn’t afford the travel costs etc...
VCS believes that volunteers should only have to
volunteer their time, all the other costs involved should be paid by the
project, including your travel costs. Over 90% of the projects on our books have
implemented such a policy however a small minority, under 10%, simply don’t have
the funding to afford to pay volunteers’ expenses.
I would
love to volunteer, but I’m receiving benefits and can’t
risk it...
Being in receipt of benefits need not stop you
volunteering. The rules clearly state that neither income support nor incapacity
benefit will be affected as long as the volunteer is not receiving any money
other than reimbursement of expenses. However the employee advisor must be
informed before you commence voluntary work. For further in depth information
see the Department for Work and Pensions leaflet JSAL7 which briefly summaries
the rules.
I would love to volunteer, but I’m an asylum seeker...
As an asylum seeker you are allowed to
volunteer as long as you are not receiving any money other than reimbursement of
expenses.
People who have
refugee status, or who have ‘exceptional leave to remain’, are permitted to do
any type of work including voluntary work.
I would
love to volunteer, but I’m moving away from the
area...
VCS is the Cardiff volunteer advice
centre but there are other organisations like us all over Wales. Please visit
www.volunteering-wales.net for their details.
I would
love to volunteer, but I don’t have the
qualifications /would need training...
Very few of our projects require
particular qualifications, most are just looking for commitment and keenness to
help. All will supply any training you need before you start your
volunteering.
I would
love to volunteer, but I don’t have the
confidence...
There are all sorts of projects needing
volunteers. Some are very challenging and may not be right for you at the moment
but others will be fine for your needs. Some have in fact specialised over the
years in involving volunteers who need a bit of extra support until they find
their feet. The trick is to match the project with what you need, which is what
VCS has been doing for over thirty years. Our services are free, friendly and we
are on your side for as long as you need us.
I would love to volunteer, but Volunteering is all
the same. I’ve never found a project to interest me...
VCS have details of over three hundred projects.
These cover everything from welding to mediation, from crèches to dry
stone-walling, from discovering a different culture with one of Cardiff’s many
ethnic minority groups to coaching an after-school football team. You’ll be
amazed at the range of things you can do as a Cardiff volunteer. Our team of
advisors will be happy to discuss the wide range of projects we have and help
match you with one of interest.
I would
love to volunteer, but I have this very unusual interest/skill and no charity
would want
me...
You would be surprised at the range of
skills and interests that charities can cater for in Cardiff. However, on
occasion, volunteers do come in looking to share a skill or interest that
charities have not thought to advertise for. We like a challenge at VCS and
that’s when we take the initiative on your behalf. Using our years of experience
and wealth of contacts, we guarantee to try our hardest to find a charity that
will offer to make use of your exceptional talents. Some of Cardiff’s most
exciting projects have started in just this way. (And we’ve never failed in over
35 years of trying!)
I would love to volunteer, but I have a criminal
record...
We’ve helped many people in your
circumstances to volunteer over the last 35 years. Talk to us about
it.
I would
love to volunteer, but I’m concentrating on
improving my job prospects at the moment...
Volunteering is unlikely to lead
directly to paid employment but it can help. It will enable you to broaden your
skill base, gain valuable work experience, improve the look of your CV, provide
you with references and help you access relevant training.
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