Frequently asked questions

Some answers to some questions asked by volunteers:

If I volunteer, will I get paid out of pocket expenses?

Some organisations can't afford to pay expenses so please ask before you start as it could determine whether you are able or willing to volunteer in that particular place.

I don’t have much time – can I still volunteer?

There are many types of volunteering opportunities; some are long term, some are for a few hours a week and some are one-off opportunities.  Organisations need volunteers during the day, evenings and weekends   You should, with the help of the volunteer centre, be able to find something that fits into your lifestyle.  Remember that there are 168 hours in a week!

What if I don’t like it?

If you are not enjoying your volunteering there may be many reasons for this. It may be that the role is not what you expected or that you are being asked too much or too little.

As a volunteer you are under no obligation to stay but before you leave a volunteering role it may be useful to talk to the volunteer coordinator or a person within the organisation that you feel able to talk to about how you feel.  They may be able to offer you something different or make changes to the role you are in.

What training will I get?

Most organisations will make sure you are given enough information to do the role you applied for.  The type of training you should be given will depend on what type of volunteering you are doing.  Some organisations also offer ongoing training for their volunteers.

If learning new skills and receiving training is important to you then you may want to ask the volunteer centre about organisations that have accredited extensive training in the area that you are interested in.

I am scared of losing my benefits if I volunteer

People can volunteer whilst on benefits.  Volunteer Centre Leeds will be able to give you confidential advice on this and the Job Centre booklet ‘Volunteering whilst on Benefits’ is a useful guide.   It can be found here.