What can you expect when becoming a volunteer?

Being a volunteer with Royal Voluntary Service is a bit different from other kinds of community volunteering.

In short, we give you the chance to match your skills and talents with the roles that suit you best.

The most important thing is that the whole experience is enjoyable and makes a real difference to everyone involved.

You could be providing companionship to a patient in hospital, helping to run an activity, giving someone a lift to the shops, chatting to someone in their own language or simply being there for a person who needs a friendly face.

Getting started as a volunteer

It all starts with you, and a conversation, you may have a lot of questions about volunteering, so our experienced team is here to answer all of them.

We’ll also have a few questions for you. Tell us how much time you have to give, the skills that you can offer, your reasons for volunteering and what interests you. This helps us create an opportunity that is right for you and your talents.

Here’s how volunteering works

You’ll get plenty of information when you start volunteering with us but to make it as easy as possible, here are a few things that you might need to know.

Induction and training

You’ll receive a thorough induction before you start volunteering with us. You’ll also get all the training you need to carry out your voluntary role.

Support while you volunteer

We will support you with everything you do during your volunteering time with us, this may be from an allocated volunteer buddy or your manager/volunteer coordinator. You can discuss your volunteering experience with them and share any issues or problems you might be facing.

Expenses

We aim to reimburse all reasonable travel expenses incurred whilst volunteering.

Insurance

As long as you’ve been approved or authorised by us first, you’ll be covered for all voluntary work that you do for us.

Safety

We obviously don’t want our volunteers to do anything while volunteering that might be unsafe or harmful. That’s why you’ll be informed of our safe working practices when you start.

Security

To make sure that you’re able to support vulnerable people, all volunteers go through a DBS check if your role needs one (previously known as a CRB check). Volunteers in Scotland will have a Disclosure Scotland check.  We also ensure that risk assessments are carried out for your role and the environment that you will be in.

Diversity

At Royal Voluntary Service, we embrace diversity. Our volunteers have different backgrounds, cultures, skills and experiences, as do the people they support.

Reward and recognition

Royal Voluntary Service’s rewards and recognition scheme recognises the achievements of volunteers.

Confidentiality

All volunteer information is kept confidential within Royal Voluntary Service. As a volunteer, we’ll also expect you to maintain the confidentiality of any information you might handle during your time with us.

Ongoing support

The WRVS Benevolent Trust offers one-off grants to our volunteers, both past and present, who find themselves in need of financial assistance. 

Friends of Royal Voluntary Service allows us to stay connected with our past volunteers and offer them support, should they ever need it.