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

Volunteer Centre

0115 934 8400

volunteercentre@nottinghamcvs.co.uk