volunteering

thinking of volunteering?

We work with around 200-250 individuals a year, and properly looking after them and supporting their needs takes a lot of time, patience, kindness and belief. To this end, we’re always looking for individuals who share our values and a passion for what we do … could you be a volunteer for us?

Why not find out what it’s like to be a part of our brilliant crew!

what we’re looking for

We currently have opportunities in the following areas … you’ll find a brief description of what we’re looking for underneath each role heading. That said, if there’s nothing here that interests you or matches your skills, and you’d still like to work with us … please do contact us and let’s have a conversation!

running the Hub

Our Hub is the beating heart of what we do and what we’re about … and we need extra support on a daily basis to ensure we’re able to offer and deliver the right experience our customers deserve.

  • Think restaurant front of house manager … we need individuals who can be the first face of Create when an individual is brave enough to walk through our door.

    You’ll need energy, empathy and a genuine understanding of the people we work with.

    Calm under pressure with a smile on your face!

  • Supporting the Hub host, we need a ‘crew’ to ensure everything is available and in place for us to provide the very best service to our ‘customers’.

    This could mean making teas and coffees, refilling the urn, washing up, sweeping up … just whatever is needed.

  • The outside of our Hub regularly needs tidying and cleaning … sweeping up, wiping down woodwork, cleaning windows.

    In addition, there’s a need for handyman jobs from time to time around the Hub.

supporting our delivery

We would love some support in the planning, coordination and communication of the programmes and activities we run every week

In addition, support for our participants in the classroom is invaluable too.

  • It’s not unusual for our participants to feel nervous and anxious when attending our courses and activities … afraid of being ‘found out’ or not being able to keep up.

    Having someone by their side who can calm them, and gently help them discover they are not alone and have a lot to offer can make a real difference.

  • As you can imagine, there’s quite a bit of paperwork and communication that surrounds our course delivery.

    Any extra pairs of hands to maybe help prepare course paperwork, capture participant details, check in or follow up with participants would be very wlecome.

behind the scenes

Naturally, all that we deliver would not be possible without all that goes on behind the scenes. If you’d rather be be behind the frontline and supporting maybe from your own home, then one of these roles may work for you.

  • Fundraising experience would be helpful but not essential. Just someone who is willing to get to know our organisation, and what we do … and research and match this with what’s on offer/available.

    If you enjoy desktop research and can work on your own initiative then this could be for you.

  • Familiarity with the usual social media platforms would be helpful … this and an eye for what works well visually and a good way with words.

  • Some financial experience together with a love of spreadsheets would be ideal for this role.

Please note … the descriptions above are deliberately not overly detailed or complete. If anything really interests you we’d rather have an initial conversation and see where it takes us!

what you can expect

Regardless of the role, we work hard to ensure our volunteers are well looked after and are an integral part of the team.

  • Our commitment to volunteering s underpinned by the following principles:

    • We will treat all volunteers fairly and without discrimination

    • We will ensure volunteers deserve and will receive support and recognition for their valuable contribution

    • We will ensure appropriate mechanisms will be in place for volunteers to contribute safely and effectively to our work including …

      • a welcome induction

      • relevant role specific training and guidance

      • regular support meetings

      • opportunities for personal development

    • Volunteering is a two-way process in which volunteers give their time to help us and in return gain benefits which may include improved confidence, health and wellbeing, learning new skills and meeting new people

    • Volunteers do not take the place of paid staff

    • we are committed to the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion and is open to everyone

    • Adverts for volunteers will be placed locally, on our website, and on various media and other volunteering websites, for example, https://www.govolherts.org.uk/ .

    • We will seek to recruit a diverse volunteer base to reflect our local community

    • If there is no current role for a potential volunteer, we may ask permission to hold their details so that we can update them about new opportunities in the future

    • All enquiries from prospective volunteers will be directed to (Insert email). They will be contacted promptly, usually by email, and will be provided with a role description where appropriate

    • If the volunteer wishes to proceed, they will be asked to complete an application form and invited to attend an informal interview. This allows the volunteer to find out more about Create Community and the role, and allows us to find out more about them, their skills, needs, suitability and how their potential might be realised

    • A current volunteer may also be involved in the interview to give the prospective volunteer an opportunity to ask questions about volunteering with us

    • We will communicate the outcome of the informal interview within 24 hours

    • If the volunteer or Create Community decides that the proposed role is unsuitable, the opportunity to explore other roles may be given, depending on availability.

    • Volunteers are selected for suitability through informal interview, requesting 2 references and checking identification. Create Community reserves the right not to recruit any person whom they deem unsuitable

    • Create Community recognises that having a criminal conviction is not in itself a barrier to volunteering.

    • We recognise that people who use our services may wish to volunteer with us. We recommend a minimum of 6 months between receiving our support and starting in a volunteer role. This give a chance for reflection on the experience of accessing support and deciding whether volunteering will be right for them at that time

    • All data relating to recruitment of volunteers (applications forms, references, training notes, etc) are treated as an information asset and subject to correct handling, use, storage, retention, access and disposal to comply with our obligations under the Data Protection Act 2018

    • All volunteers will be invited to an induction to welcome them to Create Community and introduce them to our work, our purpose and our values and explain how their role will fit within the organisation

    • Inductions take place in the Create Community Hub

    • New volunteers will be given a tour, told about health & safety, introduced to other staff and volunteers and asked to complete some induction paperwork. They will also be asked to complete some general induction training online

    • Create Community will provide a Volunteer Handbook which includes useful information including links to relevant policies and procedures and how to claim expenses. It also sets out reasonable expectations on both sides, and reinforces our values.

    • Volunteers will receive training relevant to their role, usually consisting of a combination of informal conversations, self-study and shadowing, depending on the role

    • Volunteers will receive regular support throughout their time with us, and will be offered opportunities for further training and personal development where possible and appropriate

    • All volunteers will have a named person as their main point of contact and support. They will have opportunities for feedback and discussion through regular meetings and will be encouraged to identify any concerns at the earliest stage

    • Volunteers are included in health and safety policies and are covered by insurance

    • Create Community will reimburse agreed travel and parking expenses incurred whilst volunteering.

    • Create Community recognises that people’s circumstances change and that a volunteer may no longer wish or be able to continue in their role

    • The person will be invited to attend an informal meeting to discuss reasons for leaving, and whether there are options for moving into other roles if they wish

    • On leaving volunteers will be asked to return any equipment, and will no longer have access to any Create Community IT systems

Interested?

Simply complete the form and hit submit … and we’ll be in touch soonest!