How do I apply to become a Link Age Southwark volunteer? Expand If you are interested in any of the volunteering roles we have available or believe you have skills we might find useful, you can apply quickly and easily online by completing our application form. Complete application form online You can also download a copy of the application form and email it back to us at [email protected] Download application form If you require a hard copy application, you can call us on 020 8299 2623 and we will post a form to you with a stamped addressed envelope to return your application.
What will happen once I've submitted my application? Expand We aim to contact you within two weeks of receipt of your application to arrange an informal interview with a member of the volunteering team. The interview will take place at our office and will last for approximately 30 minutes. We try to accommodate people's availability as much as possible. The interview is an opportunity for us to get to know you, discuss our volunteering roles in more detail and how you can get involved. Once the interview is complete, you will be invited to attend one of our induction sessions which are held monthly on a Thursday morning, Tuesday evening or Saturday morning.
Once I have applied, how long is it until I can start volunteering? Expand This varies from role to role. Once you have completed our training and screening process, you will be ready to start volunteering. We will seek to match you in a role as soon as possible, subject to demand for our services.
How old do I need to be to volunteer? Expand As a rule, we say the minimum age for volunteering with us is 18. However, some roles, such as office support or fundraising, are suitable for people under the age of 18. If you are under 18 and would like to volunteer, please get in touch with us and we can discuss the possibilities. There is no maximum age limit for volunteering with Link Age Southwark!
What skills and experience do I need? Expand For most of our volunteer roles you do not need any specific skills or experience, just a cheerful and friendly personality and a commitment to wanting to support older people in your community. If specific skills are required, this will be outlined in the individual role descriptions.
How much time do I need to give? Expand This varies from role to role. For example, our befriending role requires a regular hour per week commitment for a minimum of 6 months. Other roles, such as being a volunteer gardener are more flexible and are on an as-needed basis and at a time convenient to you. If there is a required time commitment, this will be outlined in the individual role descriptions.
Can I volunteer with my child? Expand It is our policy not to permit children under the age of five to accompany you when volunteering. However, we do have some opportunities at our weekday activity groups for volunteers who would like to bring their children (under the age of five). If you are interested, please get in touch with the office to discuss these opportunities in more detail.
Will I need references? Expand Yes. We ask that you provide details of two referees who have known you well for at least two years and who are not a relative or partner. Ideally, one should be from a previous employer, education or volunteer organisation. You must check with each referee that they are willing to provide us with a character reference before submitting their details and let them know that we will be contacting them. In some circumstances we may request a third reference.
Do you provide training? Expand Yes. All new volunteers are required to attend a half day induction training session to enable you to feel happy and confident to carry out your volunteering role. In addition, as a Link Age Southwark volunteer, you will have access to appropriate training to help support you in your role.
Will I get expenses reimbursed? Expand Yes. Link Age Southwark will reimburse out of pocket expenses associated with volunteering with us. This includes travel costs, phone calls made on our behalf, meal expenses if volunteering continuously for five (or more) hours in any one day up to the maximum value of £5 and other incidental expenses. All receipts must be retained as proof of expenditure. More details are available in our policies and procedures.
Will you do a criminal record check? Expand Yes. We use the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) to help assess the suitability of volunteers wishing to support older people. We carry out different levels of checks depending on the role you wish to carry out. We will provide you with all the necessary information to complete this check and will cover the cost of the application. It is our policy that if you have been living outside of England and Wales within the last three years, you will be required to obtain a certificate of good character from the country you have been residing in.
I have a criminal record, can I volunteer? Expand A criminal conviction doesn't necessarily mean you cannot volunteer with us. We ask that you disclose any spent or unspent convictions at the time of application. We will discuss any convictions with you at the interview stage and a decision will be made on a case-by-case basis with the Director of Link Age Southwark authorising the final decision.
Will you provide me with a reference? Expand We will be happy to provide you with a reference after you have completed six months in an active volunteering role.
I have a question that's not been answered here Expand If you still have a question about volunteering with Link Age Southwark, please get in touch with us via our contact form or call us on 020 8299 2623 to discuss further. We'd love to hear from you.