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What’s
in volunteering for me?
 Volunteering
can be an invaluable way of building confidence and gaining or putting
into practice new skills and interests. You can benefit from new
opportunities and use the time you have through unemployment or retirement
effectively. You can make new friends and get involved in a rewarding
activity as well as put your experience to good use to benefit others, and
help in your community. Volunteering enables you to meet new people and
people from different cultures and can give a feeling of satisfaction,
which is rewarding in itself.
Regular
visiting/befriending
 Many
people living in our community are lonely and isolated. Whether through
age, infirmity or disability, one of the problems faced is a lack of
companionship. Knowing that someone is going to call can be very
important and add greatly to the quality of life of someone without social
contacts. This is clearly an important and responsible role, and perhaps
one that you may like to consider.
More information?
Help Service drivers
 There
are many requests for help with transport for older people in our
community: some local - to the opticians, dentist,
hairdressers, to visit relatives in hospital or homes - and some
further afield - to the coast for respite care
or holidays. Your petrol costs will be
reimbursed in accordance with the VCM mileage rate scheme.
More information?
 Help
Service Gardeners - Adopt a Garden Scheme
All volunteers helping in
gardens are given an electrical circuit breaker, for use when using
electrical equipment. We advise that gloves should be worn whilst
gardening and also the use of a high factor sunscreen.
 Your
safety is very important. Always take care when using the person's tools
that they are adequate for the job - DON'T TAKE ANY UNNECESSARY RISKS -
and if the job is too big, i.e. a very high hedge needing cutting, don't
do it!
 Wheelchair
Pushing
If you are asked to take
someone out in a wheelchair you will receive training, and receive a
booklet on wheelchair pushing.Lap-belts must be worn, or a disclaimer
signed by the user – available from VCM.
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