Haverhill and District Volunteer Centre was established in 1988. It is financially supported by grant aid from Suffolk County Council, St Edmundsbury Borough Council, Haverhill Town Council and many other corporate and personal supporters.

Haverhill Volunteer Centre is a local voluntary organisation that exists to promote and support volunteering in Haverhill and the surrounding areas. HVC actively recruits potential volunteers, from all sections of the community, and places them with local voluntary organisations who are seeking volunteers to help with their work. We are one of a large, and growing, number of similar organisations and are affiliated to the National Association of Volunteer Bureaux.

The volunteer centre is run by a co-ordinator and an administrative assistant. It is accountable to a management committee drawn from the local community and statutory bodies.

The centre is open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays 10.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m. You can contact us by a personal visit, telephone, fax or e-mail.

The volunteer centre offers many services including :

	Volunteering opportunities for individuals
	Funding advice for local groups and organisations
	Training opportunities
	General advice for volunteers and end users

We work in partnership with :

	Statutory bodies
	Grant giving organisations
	Voluntary organisations
	Community groups
	Lottery fund providers
	The private sector

To develop and enhance voluntary opportunities and activities throughout our community.

Haverhill and District Volunteer Centre is a registered charity and governed according to the regulations and guidelines laid down by the Charity Commission.

What do volunteers do?
Volunteers are needed for a wide range of tasks by local organisations and individuals in need. You can help with clerical work, driving, wheelchair pushing, befriending, gardening, fund-raising, painting and decorating and in many other ways. You do not have to possess any specific skills - although these are of course welcomed - only be prepared to give your time.

Who can volunteer?
Anyone and everyone - including YOU! We welcome everyone. There is no minimum or maximum age limit (young volunteers should note the 'important information section' at the bottom of this page). We recognise the contribution that everyone can make to our community and believe that all people have the right to fair and equal treatment. Volunteers like yourself are an established and integral part of our community, freely contributing their skills, experience, talents and most essentially time for the benefit of others. HVC operates, and monitors, a comprehensive equal opportunities policy.

How much time will you have to give?
It’s up to you. Daytime, evenings or weekends - you can give as much - or as little - time as your lifestyle allows and you feel like giving. You may have a few hours a week to offer long term, or you may want to volunteer full time on a short term basis. We do, however, ask you to be realistic when making your commitment and to be reliable in your undertakings to others.

What is the volunteer’s role?
The relationship between a volunteer and the person or organisation that they are helping is a gift relationship. It is a gift of the volunteer’s time for the benefit of others. There is no enforceable obligation for volunteers to attend or do the tasks provided for them. Likewise, payment is not provided for any activity undertaken excepting necessary expenses. Arrangements between volunteers and the people or organisations that they are helping are, typically, binding in honour only and are not intended to create a legally binding contract. Any reimbursement of expenses or training support that a volunteer receives is purely discretionary and does not affect the fact that volunteers give their time and skills to others freely.

As a volunteer you have certain moral responsibilities to those you are helping. You should try to :

	Be reliable
	Arrive on time
	Respect confidentiality of clients and their business
	Be non judgmental
	Recognise any personal and external limitations on your commitment
	Be honest if you have a problem

As a volunteer you have the right to:

	Know who to speak to if you have any problems
	Be safe
	Receive appropriate training
	Be covered by appropriate insurance
	Be reimbursed for your out of pocket expenses
	Have choices and to be able to discuss them
	Be taken seriously by paid colleagues
	Be valued

A Challenge ...
Volunteering can, and should be, an enriching experience for the volunteer. It can bring new challenges, build self-confidence and bring a real sense of achievement.

Work experience, and the chance to gain a new reference
By volunteering you can show potential employers that you are motivated and reliable. It offers a chance to brush up on old skills and, perhaps, learn new ones.


Social contact and companionship
Volunteering can offer the chance to make new friends - both with those you are helping and with your fellow volunteers. The chance to understand the difficulties that others face... and to contribute to the welfare of your community.

Potential volunteers are required to fill in a registration form which we can send to you on request. On the basis of the information you give us we will attempt to match you to an organisation or individual who would benefit from your help. We ask for the names and addresses of two referees. Any disclosures relating to crime, health and personal circumstances will be treated as confidential. We will ask you to attend an informal interview with the volunteer co-ordinator to help ensure that the help you can offer matches your wishes. Below you will find a section headed “Important information for volunteers”. Please ensure that you read and understand this fully before contacting us to register.

We publish a newsletter on a quarterly basis which will automatically be mailed to you when you enrol as a volunteer. This will give information on current volunteering vacancies, diary dates and forthcoming social events open to volunteers, and updates on what other volunteers are doing. We will endeavour to contact you by phone or in writing every two months to update our records and to monitor your progress. This will enable you to develop your voluntary potential and meet your training needs. Please feel free to contact us at any time. We are always pleased to hear about your experiences. We operate a free community lunch every other month at Haverhill Arts Centre, to enable our volunteers to meet and share experiences on an informal basis. Dates are announced in the newsletter.

Please read this carefully, and make sure that you fully understand this information before you apply to become a volunteer.

Equal Oppertunities Policy
Haverhill Volunteer Centre operates an equal opportunities policy. We are committed to ensuring that no volunteer, staff member or organisation or individual to whom we provide services will be discriminated against in any way on the grounds of :
Race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin. Gender, marital status and caring responsibilities Sexual orientation Physical or mental disability or mental ill health Political beliefs Employment status Unrelated criminal convictions

Complaints Procedure
Haverhill Volunteer Centre operates a complaints procedure for anybody - volunteers or those they are helping - who is not satisfied with the service they have received. If you feel that you have been unfairly treated you should, in the first instance, contact the chairperson in writing. Address your complaint to;

The Chairperson, Haverhill Volunteer Centre, 6b High Street, Haverhill, CB9 8AA.
You will receive acknowledgement of your complaint, in writing, within seven days of receipt.

Your right to benefits
Volunteering should not necessarily affect your entitlement to any benefits. Reimbursement for actual expenses incurred whilst volunteering should not affect your benefits. You should, however, check with your local Job Centre or Benefits Agency for up to date information before volunteering. Volunteers in receipt of home support or any other benefits are responsible for informing their local benefit office. A copy of the booklet, FB26, “Voluntary and part-time workers” is available at the back of this pack.

Confidentiality
You are asked to respect the trust accorded to you by groups and individuals. We will provide you with the same respect. Any written or spoken word or correspondence should be kept secure at all times and not disclosed without the permission of the person who has given that information except in circumstances which may threaten life.

Additional information for young volunteers
Haverhill Volunteer Bureau recognises the special contribution that young people can make to our society. We also recognise the special safety needs of young people and are committed to ensuring that they are met. HVC currently houses a Youth Volunteer Facilitator who understands the special qualities, needs and requirements of young people. All volunteers under the age of 18 require the written permission of a parent or legal guardian before engaging in voluntary activity.

Health and Safety
In the interests of health and safety at work, organisations you help will seek your co-operation in implementing their policies on health and safety. As a volunteer it is important that we provide adequate insurance against any risks that you may face. Do not hesitate to ask about your position regarding insurance cover. If in any doubt please feel free to ask advice from the Co-ordinator at Haverhill Volunteer Centre.

National Association of Volunteer Bureaux
Volunteer Bureaux form a national network of agencies concerned with volunteers and volunteering. They are committed to ensuring that prospective volunteers have a wider and more informed understanding of their rights and responsibilities when considering volunteering opportunities. The Haverhill Volunteer Centre is a member of the NAVB.

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