Volunteering Project

Responsibilities
 As a volunteer you can offer varying levels of commitment and responsibility to an organisation, what you are willing to give should be discussed in your induction or at supervision if things change. However, as a volunteer you should be reliable, keeping to times and dates and letting people know if you cannot make it in to the organisation. You should carry out your tasks and comply with all the organisations policies and procedures. You should be honest if there are problems and talk to your supervisor or the appropriate person. You should respect the confidentiality of organisations and individuals within the organisation.

 These ‘rules’ are set out in a volunteer agreement that you might be asked to read and sign during your induction. You will also receive the organisations policies and procedures during your induction. These are documents that set out rules of engagement and behaviour that the organisation expects from all of its volunteers and paid workers alike.

Grievances and leaving a placement
 You are not legally bound by a contract, as paid workers are, and therefore, are free to leave whenever you like. So, if you don't like the work you can leave. You are under no real obligation to keep volunteering for an organisation that you unhappy in. But our advice would be to talk to someone in the organisation before you leave. You might find that the organisation can do something to change the circumstances or offer you something different that you might enjoy. If you feel that you have been mistreated as a volunteer you have the same right to grievance and appeal procedures as paid employees, these procedures can vary, but should be set out in your induction.