Long Term Unemployment

Working conditions for effective volunteering 

Unemployed volunteers may need a higher degree of flexibility around time and location in order to attend job interviews. VIOs should always reimburse expenses. Offer certificates or awards that validate their volunteering activity, and a reference.

Example

Background: The prospective volunteer had not been in work for a number of years and struggled a lot with confidence, especially around cash handling. The volunteer also had a chronic pain disorder which meant they often had fatigue and sometimes struggled with their memory.

Volunteer Role: Front Desk

Support Provided to the Volunteer:

• The Volunteer Support Officer worked closely with the volunteer throughout their induction, helping them to take notes and repeating the stages of the process so that they could take in information at their own pace.

• Members of staff working as a Duty Manager were briefed on the needs of the volunteer so that they could provide support as needed. This meant an element of upskilling for some staff members so that they could support with specific tasks where the volunteer’s confidence was particularly low, i.e. cashing up.

• The Volunteer Support Officer regularly checked in with the volunteer to discuss how the role was going. If any specific issues were raised by the volunteer, then they would work together to resolve it in the next session.

Impact:

• The person-centred approach used meant that the volunteer was able to build their confidence in the role and work completely independently. They have thrived in the role and have attested to it improving their mental health.

• The volunteer has gone from doing one half-a day shift a week to two and half days a week across different sites. They have become one of our best and most reliable volunteers.

• The volunteer has become involved in lots of other parts of life in the charity, supporting special events, taking part in additional training and helping to train new recruits.