Unite Guide: Good Practice in Volunteering guide

Unite has re-launched its good practice for volunteering guide in partnership with the UK Volunteering Forum.

The guide aims to offer guidance and help to people interested in becoming a legitimate volunteer, suggesting key areas that a potential volunteer should consider when looking for a volunteering role.

Organisations that involve volunteers vary greatly and arrangements will differ accordingly, especially in small community groups and for one-off volunteering opportunities. The most important thing is that volunteers are given clear information and the opportunity to ask questions about the organisation and the roles on offer, before making a decision.

Once volunteering it is important that volunteers feel well supported and valued. Although Volunteers do not have contracts of employment or legal rights in the same way as employees, Volunteers do have the right to join a trade union. Unite the largest union in the Community, Youth Workers and Not for Profit sectors, and offers a reduced community membership rate to all volunteers.

This enables volunteers to get involved with Unite’s community branches and local campaigning networks. It also provides members with a wide range of benefits including basic legal advice and access to personal injury claims, financial health checks, back to work services, hardship grants, and other retail benefits.

To download the guide and for further information on Unite’s membership rate for volunteers visit www.uniteforoursociety.org/blog/entry/unite-guide-good-practice-in-volunteering-guide/?utm_source=LINX+332+-+19+June&utm_campaign=LINX332&utm_medium=email.