volunteers
At Dundee Women's Aid we value the contribution of volunteers - helping us to deliver services, raise awareness of our work and increase the range of skills and perspectives within our organisation.
Volunteers can get involved with our Connecting Women project by taking part and facilitating groups, being part of our befriending service 1:1 scheme, events, prevention or perhaps you have a particular skill or service you can offer to the women and families in our service. Get in touch to explore the varied opportunities open to you.
We encourage women from all sections of the community to volunteer. If you would like to volunteer with us, please have a look through our frequently asked questions below and check our vacancies page for opportunities.
If there's anything you'd like answered that we haven't covered, please don't hesitate to contact us. We are always happy to chat about volunteering.
Click on the headings below to read more.
When do you recruit for volunteers?
Volunteers can get involved with our Connecting Women project by taking part and facilitating groups, being part of our befriending service 1:1 scheme, events, prevention or perhaps you have a particular skill or service you can offer to the women and families in our service. Get in touch to explore the varied opportunities open to you.
We encourage women from all sections of the community to volunteer. If you would like to volunteer with us, please have a look through our frequently asked questions below and check our vacancies page for opportunities.
If there's anything you'd like answered that we haven't covered, please don't hesitate to contact us. We are always happy to chat about volunteering.
Click on the headings below to read more.
When do you recruit for volunteers?
We aim to recruit volunteers at least once a year depending on the demand of the service and any volunteer opportunities will be advertised on this website. If you would like to be contacted when we are looking for volunteers please email info@dundeewomensaid.co.uk
How much time do I have to give?(show less)
This depends upon the role but as a minimum we usually look for a commitment of 8 hours/month for 1 year in order for you to benefit fully from your volunteering experience.
Are there certain skills I need to be a volunteer?(show less)
It will depend on which role you are interested in. All volunteers will be offered training and support. Any relevant skills will be explained in more detail when the volunteering role is advertised. For all our roles, you will need to be open-minded, non-judgemental, be able to listen, learn and work as part of a team. You will also share the values of Dundee Women's Aid.
What training will I receive?(show less)
All volunteers will receive a comprehensive induction which will introduce you to the organisation and what we do, hopefully helping you to settle in quickly. You will also attend basic training covering Domestic Abuse Awareness, Managing Boundaries, Adult and Child Protection etc. If necessary for your role, you will also receive training on using DWA's Case Management System. Ongoing support is provided throughout your time as a volunteer as well as opportunities for further training.
Will I have to have an interview?(show less)
The interview is informal and is a two-way process. It enables you to ensure that the volunteering opportunity meets your needs and interests and you have an opportunity to ask us questions. It is also a way for us to find out more about you and to ensure that you are suitable for a particular role.
Am I guaranteed to get a volunteer role if I attend the interview?(show less)
Unfortunately, we only have limited amounts of volunteer opportunities and we tend to have more applicants than we do opportunities, however we do endeavour to offer opportunities to as many women as we can.
Can I still volunteer if I have a criminal record?(show less)
A criminal record will not necessarily exclude you from volunteering. We take these issues into account on an individual basis. As a volunteer you may be dealing with vulnerable adults, young people or children, so it's essential that the correct checks are carried out, to protect our volunteers and those that they will be working with. All volunteers must agree to apply for Protection of Vulnerable Groups Membership (PVG). Checks like this are important so that we can ensure the safety of all the people we work with. We work within confidentiality polices and your information will be treated as confidential.
Can I volunteer if I am still using the service myself?(show less)
We are unable to offer volunteer opportunities to women who are currently using any of our services. This is to maintain confidentiality of all our other service users. We can however, offer opportunities to women who have been out of a DWA service for 6 months or more.
Are there a maximum number of hours I could volunteer for if I am on Job Seekers Allowance?(show less)
No, there are no maximum hours that someone claiming JSA can volunteer for; however, you must be actively seeking and available for work. While there is no stated limit to the number of hours a person can volunteer for, it is very likely that a claimant volunteering more or less full time, 5 days a week will be considered not to have time to be actively seeking work by benefits agency staff. To be available for work, a volunteer must be available to attend a job interview or start work at short notice.
Will I be guaranteed a paid job with DWA after I finish my volunteering?(show less)
We cannot guarantee that a volunteer will be offered paid work. In line with our Equal Opportunities policy, when a paid position becomes available, it will be advertised internally and externally and you would be welcome to apply for the position and go through the usual recruitment and selection procedure for paid staff.
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