WHY VOLUNTEER?
Reasons why people volunteer.

Different people have different reasons for wanting to be a volunteer.  People use volunteering to:

   Meet new people and make new friends;

   To explore a possible career change;

   To gain confidence;

   Acquire new skills and gain experience - this is very useful to people who are unemployed as they may be able to obtain a reference from the group they volunteer with;

   To improve their Curriculum Vitae

   To give structure to their day if they have recently ceased paid employment due to retirement or for personal reasons;

   To help their local community;

   Change their status from someone who has been 'helped' to someone who can 'help' others

   Prove something to themselves or others and get a sense of achievement;

   Feel less isolated.

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WHAT CAN I DO?
More about opportunities available.

There are hundreds of voluntary groups in Bexley and therefore hundreds of opportunities.  Below is a list of the kinds of opportunities available:

• administration support to voluntary organizations
• as an advocate
• counselling
• driving
• fundraising
• gardening
• giving advice
• help at 'one-off' events such as summer fun-days or fêtes
• helping in a charity shop
• helping in a local hospital or hospice in a variety of roles
• local day centre for the elderly or disabled
• participating in a mentoring project
• providing refreshments or light lunches for various clubs
• serving as a trustee on the management committee of a voluntary organization
• various local conservation projects
• telephone helplines
• training to be a befriender to a lonely or disadvantaged person

But there are lots more opportunities that can be very specialised because of the service a voluntary group is offering so it is unlikely that you would not be able to find something that you suited you and that fitted in with your lifestyle, eg. if you already work full-time but want to volunteer occasionally.  Obviously, the more free time you have available, the wider the choice of opportunities you will have to choose from.

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1. Download pages from our Volunteer Information Pack, by downloading from the links in the paragraph below.
   
   The Information Pack contains a covering letter, information on Volunteer Rights & Responsibilities, and a Request Form for an appointment in our Volunteer Drop In. The Pack also contains details of a small selection of current volunteering opportunities in Bexley which gives a flavour of what is available locally.  Please download those sections which are of interest to you and then phone the Volunteer Centre (020 8304 0911) or e-mail bexleyvc@bvsc.co.uk for contact details for the opportunities which appeal to you.  Similarly, if you have any other queries having read the Pack, please phone or e-mail the Volunteer Centre. 

2. You can come into our Drop-In facility at our offices to have a personal one-to-one appointment with a trained advisor, to find a suitable opportunity, by either browsing through our database on a computer, or simply discussing your requirements if computers are not for you! 
   
   The Drop-In is open at our offices Tuesdays 10.00am-12.00pm, and Thursdays 10.00am-12.00pm at the Central Library in Bexleyheath Wednesdays 10.00am to 12.00pm, and at Erith Library on the first Saturday of every month 10.30am to 2pm.  Please call Volunteer Centre Bexley on 020 8304 0911 for an appointment or email bexleyvc@bvsc.co.uk, heading your email “Drop In Appointment Request”.

3. www.do-it.org – log on to this website and check for opportunities within a given radius of your home.  Please complete the online registration form and if it is an opportunity we have posted, that enquiry will be forwarded to us.  We aim to reply to do-it enquiries within 5 days of receipt, by return email.

4. www.timebank.co.uk - log on to this website and complete the volunteer registration form which is then downloaded to Bexley Volunteer Centre direct.
   
   
5. Olympics Volunteering – For information on how you can get involved in volunteering at the Olympics or in the run up to the Ganes, please visit www.thebigopportunity.org.uk/web/volunteering.  If you are particularly interested in gaining events volunteering experience, you can follow the link to the 2012 Volunteering Legacy website.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
About volunteering.

1.    How much time do I have to give?

As much or as little as you can... some tasks require volunteers for slots of 2-3 hours whereas others can be for longer, say, 5-6 hours.  A lot of volunteering takes place during office hours throughout the week but there is still a wide variety of tasks for volunteers at evenings, weekends or just now and then.  There is usually some form of volunteering that can fit in with your lifestyle - however, the greater the amount of time you can give the greater the choice of volunteering opportunities.  For some roles you can also opt to be part of a volunteering pool, which is contacted when needed e.g. events volunteers, conservation volunteers etc. 

2.    What experience do I need?

Most people have a variety of skills and experience - without even realizing it - from the ability to be a good listener to more practical skills like driving.  Many people volunteer to gain practical experience in a particular field of volunteering, especially if they are considering a career change.  Some people volunteer who have been out of paid employment for a period of time through family commitments, ill-health, etc.  If you have a particular skill you want to use or develop then contact the Volunteer Centre for an informal discussion on how volunteering can help you to meet that need.

3.    Can I claim for my expenses?

Most organizations will reimburse you for travel expenses and may offer reimbursement up to a set figure for lunch if volunteering takes place over a certain number of hours.  Reimbursements against Oyster card use can also be made. Any conditions regarding expense payments should be checked with the organization concerned before you start volunteering.  Volunteers should not be out of pocket.

4.    How long will it take to start volunteering after I have contacted you?

It may take a while before you can start volunteering as, depending on the opportunity you choose, the organization may have a policy of taking up references and possibly undertaking a police check which can sometimes take up to 4 weeks to come through.  The main thing is to remain patient and liaise with the Volunteer Centre  if things do not move as quickly as you had hoped.  It is also important to remember that many groups are run by volunteers themselves and it may take them a little longer to get back to you.

5.    I work full time - what could I do as a volunteer?

There are a number of local youth clubs which need volunteers in the evenings; committee members of voluntary groups have evening meetings and do tasks at times suitable to them, eg. fundraising, acting as treasurer; telephone helplines; befriending; volunteer driving; conservation projects at weekends, etc. You can also become an events volunteer – see no 5 in the “HOW CAN I FIND OUT MORE” section.

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For current opportunities, visit

Volunteer Centre Bexley is a service provided for organisations and residents of the London Borough of Bexley only.  However, if you live in a neighbouring Borough but wish to volunteer in Bexley, we will still be able to help you find a volunteering role.  We would suggest, however, that you also contact your local Volunteer Centre – please see contact information below.  If you live outside of the borough the following numbers may be useful:

Volunteer Centre Greenwich - tel no 020 8853 1331

Volunteer Centre Bromley - tel no 020 8663 3773
also at Penge - tel no 020 8776 8669

Volunteer Centre Dartford - tel no 01322 272476

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THE VOLUNTEER SUPPORT PROJECT

Find out what support is available for people with learning disabilities, mental health problems or head injuries who wish to become involved in voluntary work.

The Volunteer Support Project is part of the Volunteer Centre Bexley and is specifically for people who have a learning disability, a mental health problem or have had a head injury.  The Volunteer Support Worker is Sharon Williams who works 20 hours a week, mainly on Tuesdays to Fridays.  (However, messages can be left at any time during normal office hours). This project was introduced to make volunteering a positive option.  Basically it works as follows:

• Contact the Volunteer Support Worker, who will arrange a suitable time to meet with you.
• At this meeting, you will discuss what sort of things you are interested in, what things you have done in the past, things you feel that  you are good at, and any concerns you may have.
• Together, you and the Volunteer Support Worker will talk about the options for volunteering that may be of interest to you.
• You both agree on the appropriate level of support.
• All possible options for the type of voluntary work you are interested in will be explored.
  A visit will be arranged to possible placements.
• You will be supported on the first day of your placement by the Volunteer Support Worker, where appropriate.  You will then be supported as much as is necessary for the first 6 months.
• Regular contact will be maintained between you and the Volunteer Support Worker to ensure your placement continues to work and meet your needs.
• A review will be undertaken at the end of 6 months to decide if support needs to continue.
• Your placement can be reviewed at any time if you feel it is no longer right for you.  If appropriate, we will look for something else that might be more suitable for you.
   

Contact Sharon Williams, the Volunteer Support Worker, at:

  BVSC, 8 Brampton Road, Bexleyheath, Kent DA7 4EY

Tel: 020 8304 0911

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