 | | 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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