Supporting Volunteers – the lifeblood of the
sector
Stacey Shillingford
Volunteering Development Manager
Holly Neill
Networks Officer – Vulnerable Adults
Supporting Volunteers
• What issues have you faced in the past in regards to supporting volunteers?
• What issues are you facing with your current volunteers?
• Is the need for support increasing?
Support needs?
Mental health
Single parent
English as a second languageJobseeker
Disability
Learning difficulty
Health issues
Low confidence
Homelessness
Addictions Older/younger volunteers
Offending history
What support do you offer for volunteers in general?
• Supervisions/regular formal catch ups
• Buddying
• Training
• Informal catch ups
Additional needs
How do you identify when a volunteer has additional needs?
What would you do to begin to approach supporting the individual?
Accessibility
• Do you need a formal application form?
• Can people contact you in various ways?
• Do you really need a DBS check?
• Can you cover expenses?
• What reasonable adjustments can you make?
Disability
Disability is a huge area which can cover many conditions and impairments.
Take everything on an individual basis and make reasonable adjustments, for example;•Be flexible on volunteering times•Fund taxi fares for volunteers who are unable to take public transport•Help with finding information on bus routes and printing maps
Disabilities (via Scope)
• Concentrate on ability rather than disability.• Listen to the volunteer; they understand their impairment
best.• Be prepared to have some flexibility around role
descriptions.• Ask the volunteer about their communication needs.• Address negative attitudes towards disability - whether
from staff, other volunteers or clients.• Make sure that disabled volunteers feel part of the team.
When it comes to support…
People need support for lots of different reasons, but there are very similar solutions to the support needed. Some just require more staff time than others.
Maximise your time
• Be open and honest
• Develop a buddying system amongst volunteers
• Can colleagues support you?
• Be prepared
• Plan your time
Whatever the support issue(s);
• Don’t make assumptions
• Be clear and consistent about the role
• Ask their opinion
• Coping strategies of the individual
• Signpost if necessary
• Work on an individual basis
• Think creatively
Open floor