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If you are receiving state benefits you are still allowed to volunteer. However, there are some rules that you need to be aware of to make sure that your volunteering doesn’t have an impact on the benefits you receive.
This guidance aims to help you start volunteering by giving an overview of what you need to know and providing some answers to some of the questions you may have before you start volunteering.
This doesn’t cover every situation and you may have questions about your individual circumstances. If you’re unsure about where you stand in relation to the rules, you can contact your local Volunteer Centre, or you should speak to your job coach or benefits adviser. Your local Citizen’s Advice Bureau may also be able to help.
People are allowed to volunteer while claiming state benefits, including means-tested benefits such as jobseeker’s allowance (JSA), incapacity benefit, income support, and employment and support allowance (ESA).
You can volunteer as many hours as you like while you’re getting benefits as long as you keep to the rules for getting them.
What are the rules?
The rules vary depending on the type of benefit you’re receiving, but there are some key principles that you need to bear in mind.
You can volunteer with any kind of organisation including:
It doesn’t count as volunteering if you are:
You must notify your job coach or benefits adviser if you intend to start volunteering
Benefits claimants are required to notify their benefits adviser of their intention to start volunteering.
The organisation you volunteer for cannot give you any money except for reimbursing you for out-of-pocket expenses
These must be expenses that you’ve incurred in order to volunteer, for example the cost of travel, meals while out volunteering, care costs etc.
The organisation should collect receipts from you and reimburse exactly what you’ve spent. This means that, if needed, you could show your benefits adviser that any money you were getting was a reimbursement and not a payment.
If you’re receiving financial rewards beyond out-of-pocket expenses, this can be classed as income and will be liable for tax, and it can affect the benefits you receive. If you live with your parents or partner, their benefits could be affected if you get money, or anything else on top of expenses that could be seen as payment.
www.gov.uk/volunteering/when-you-can-volunteer
You must follow the rules for the specific benefit you are receiving and any plans or agreements you have in place
Make sure you are clear on this with your job coach or benefits adviser and be upfront about your intention to start volunteering.
You may have agreed an individual plan; for example, if you’re on JSA you may have a claimant commitment that you agreed with your work coach. This may identify specific tasks and activities to complete.
Before you start your volunteering, you should make sure that it’s part of this plan and that it has been agreed with your job coach or adviser.
If you don’t follow the plan, you may face penalties for failing to meet your responsibilities. Your work coach should review the plan regularly and let you know what penalties you could face. If they’ve been informed about your volunteering and it’s built into a plan to enable you to meet your other responsibilities, then it shouldn’t be the cause of sanctions or penalties.
Volunteering and universal credit
You can still volunteer if you’re on universal credit as long as you also undertake any activities, such as job searching, training or other requirements, identified by your Jobcentre Plus adviser. This is likely to be part of a claimant commitment.
How will I know what these requirements are?
When you first attend Jobcentre Plus, your adviser will decide which of four groups you will be put into, depending on your needs and circumstances. For example:
Everyone else will be expected to take ‘all reasonable action’ to find a job or increase their hours or pay (‘all work-related requirements’).
Your adviser will draw up a claimant commitment in consultation with you. This will set out which group you are in and what actions, if any, you will be expected to take to find work, find better-paid work or increase your hours. It will also say what will happen if you don’t comply with this (your adviser may impose sanctions).
Does volunteering count as taking ‘reasonable action’ to find a job?
Yes, it can count towards up to 50% of the time you are expected to be looking for a job.*
This means that:
* This will not apply to you if you are in the no requirements, work-focused interview, or work preparation category.
Does that mean I can’t volunteer for more than 17.5 hours a week?
There are no restrictions on how many hours you can volunteer, but you will be required to spend at least 17.5 hours a week job-seeking if you’re looking for full-time work, or half the expected number of part-time hours if you’re looking for part-time work, as illustrated by the examples above.
Can my Jobcentre Plus adviser require me to volunteer?
No. Volunteering is something that you choose to do because you want to freely give your time and energy to benefit others. No one can force you to volunteer.
You may be required to undertake work experience or a formal work placement, perhaps in a voluntary organisation, but that is not volunteering.
Can my Jobcentre Plus adviser insist on the type of volunteering that I can do?
No. You choose where you want to give your time. However, you may find it useful to discuss with your adviser how you can use the skills and experience gained from volunteering in your search for a job.
Can my Jobcentre Plus adviser approach the Volunteer Centre or the organisation I volunteer for to check up on me?
No. You have chosen to volunteer and you have a separate relationship with both your Volunteer Centre and the organisation you volunteer for. They should not give out any details about you without your permission.
What happens if I don’t volunteer for as many hours a week as I agreed with my Jobcentre Plus adviser?
If there is a reason why you haven’t been able to volunteer for a time-limited period, for example you or your child was ill or you had to move house, then you may be temporarily exempt from meeting your requirements.
If not, then you should make sure that you make up the time in other work-related activities so that you don’t get penalised. Failure to comply with activities set out in your claimant commitment could lead to you being sanctioned, which could include the loss of your benefits.
What happens if the organisation I volunteer for reduces my hours?
Again, you may need to spend more time looking for work, or volunteering for another organisation to make up the time lost. It’s always worth explaining your situation to your volunteer manager and asking them not to change your hours without giving you notice or consulting you first.
I’ve been told that I have to be immediately available for work. If I’m volunteering, what happens if I get offered an interview or a job?
As a volunteer you are given a little more leeway: you have 48 hours to attend an interview and one week to take up a job offer.
Where can I get more help?
www.gov.uk/volunteering/when-you-can-volunteer
www.gov.uk/guidance/universal-credit-toolkit-for-partner-organisations
www.ncvo.org.uk/ncvo-volunteering/i-want-to-volunteer
www.knowhownonprofit.org/how-to/how-to-volunteer
Disclaimer
https://www.ncvo.org.uk/ncvo-volunteering/volunteering-and-benefits
To act as the first point of contact for visitors and callers to Alert and to undertake a range of other administrative tasks as identified by the Facilities Manager.
Skills Required
AdministratorRequirements
Administration TrainingS upervision
Reporting Structure
This job description reflects the present requirements of the post. It may be reviewed and amended as the duties and responsibilities of the job change and develop.
To be responsible for meeting fundraising targets by encouraging current and potential supporters to organise fundraising events, as well as organising our own promotional and fundraising events.
To work with individuals, communities, and businesses to raise awareness of the charity’s work, aims, and goals. Ultimately, to increase the contributions of those individuals and groups by building relationships and exploring new fundraising techniques and ideas.
Job Description
This job description reflects the present requirements of the post. It may be reviewed and amended as the duties and responsibilities of the job change and develop.
Duties and Responsibilities
1. Manage the fundraising and events team, including any volunteers, to ensure the smooth running of the department. Delegate work efficiently.
2. Research markets to identify opportunities for fundraising.
3. Take responsibility for all fundraising activities internally and externally.
4. Follow up each event from start to finish; ensuring costs are kept to a minimum.
5. Identify new and potential supporters and encourage them to organise their own fundraising events to raise funds for the charity.
6. Act as a main contact for supporters holding events to raise funds. Sustain a relationship with all fundraisers and encourage them to continue supporting through other events.
7. Send information/fundraising materials via telephone, post, fax or email when requested by potential supporters or current fundraisers. Follow up all requests.
8. Attend events, as necessary (sometimes outside contracted work hours). Arrive prepared and be polite, friendly and professional.
9. Prepare mail shots and correspondence using direct mailing to reach a wide range of potential and current donors.
10. Thank all donors immediately after donation is received and log all details.
11. Keep all supporters up to date with regular newsletters and appeal letters.
12. Work with all forms of the media (including use of websites, posters and newsletters) to promote market and advertise forthcoming events.
13. Organise promotional fundraising events from start to finish including:
Additional Expectations:
What you will gain