Information for Existing Volunteers
Welcome to our information resource for existing volunteers.
Scroll down this page to read:
- Latest volunteer news
- Volunteer training and events information
- Giving feedback and suggestions
- Useful downloads and resources
“In 2008-2009 volunteers gave over 7000 hours of their time to George House Trust”
Volunteer News
New Volunteer Handbook!
George House Trust has a new volunteer handbook - designed to tell you everything you need to know about volunteering with us! You can download a copy of the handbook here. If you would like a paper copy, please contact a member of the Volunteering Staff Team. Please let us know if you have any feedback or suggestions about the pack!
Changes to Volunteer Travel Expenses
We've made some changes to our Volunteer Expenses Policy that we need to make you aware of. We currently pay the highest rate of mileage permitted by HMRC (Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs) and, as of Tuesday 22nd September, we are changing our mileage rate for travel to/from volunteering activities (please note there is no change to the mileage rate for "volunteer driving"). As part of our efforts to work as cost effectively as possible, we are also encouraging volunteers to use the cheapest form of transport available, where this is practical. Please see below for a summary of the changes.
By Car
Travel to and from George House Trust and to/from offsite volunteering
We pay the first 15 miles of a one way journey at 40p per mile and subsequent miles at 20p per mile. The mileage rate is reviewed annually in line with HMRC guidelines.
Travel as a “Volunteer Driver”
We pay all mileage incurred by volunteers undertaking driving jobs (e.g. driving for service users or for distribution or taking equipment to/from events) for George House Trust at 40p per mile.
We are also making some changes to our Childcare Expenses. We are one of the few volunteer-involving organisations to pay childcare expenses for volunteers attending training. As of Tuesday 22nd September, we will still pay childcare costs for volunteers to attend our New Volunteer Induction Training Course and any other induction courses (e.g. Community Support Induction, Positive Speakers Induction). We are no longer able to pay childcare costs for volunteers to attend ongoing learning and development activities.
Childcare
We reimburse the cost of childcare for volunteers attending Induction Training for volunteer roles within George House Trust. We pay £6 per hour for childcare, for up to 7 hours per day of training.
Please note that we cannot pay childcare costs for attending ongoing training or for attending social events. If you are unsure whether a course is “Induction Training” please check with a member of staff first.
You can download the new Volunteer Travel Expenses Policy here. Please get rid of any old expenses claim forms and start using the new ones. You can download the new Volunteer Expenses Claim Form here.
Also just a reminder to make sure an "activity code" is entered onto the form when you are claiming your expenses!
New Focus for Community Support
Many of you will be aware that we’ve made a number of changes to our Community Support programme over the last year. So, to make sure everyone’s up to speed with what we’re doing, we’ve included a summary of what Community Support is, and what it isn’t!
Community Support matches people living with HIV with trained volunteers to help them build confidence and become do things independently. The support is provided for an agreed length of time and is regularly reviewed, to make sure it is the right support for the service user. The support offered is based around the service user’s individual needs and the changes that they want to make in their lives. These could include:
- Making new friends
- Developing new hobbies and interests
- Accessing groups and services
- Returning to work, education or training
- Finding their way around their local area (especially for people who are new to Manchester or to living in the UK)
Community Support isn’t about:
- Providing long term befriending/buddying support (we would only do this if someone is very unwell)
- Cleaning
- Personal Care
- Doing someone’s shopping for them
Community Support Volunteers are from all types of backgrounds and receive full training and ongoing support and supervision. If you are interested in getting involved as a Community Support Volunteer you need to be approachable, supported and good at motivating others. Our next Community Support Induction is taking place at the end of November 2009.
If you’d like further information about any aspect of Community Support, please contact Sandra, our Community Support Volunteer Coordinator on 0161 274 4499 or email: sandra@ght.org.uk
Volunteer Training and Events
Read about the latest training and events for Volunteers at GHT.
You can also download PowerPoint Slides and Handouts from our Volunteer Training Events
Introduction to HIV Treatments and Side Effects
Introduction to HIV Treatments and Side Effects Part Two
Volunteer Views
We welcome feedback about your experience of volunteering at George House Trust and suggestions for the future development of the programme, for example:
- Requests for particular training or skills development courses
- Ideas for social events and activities
- Ideas for ways we can support you in your volunteering
- Positive comments or complaints about volunteering at GHT
You can give feedback by:
- Filling in our annual volunteer survey
- Attending our annual volunteer focus group
- Coming along to a volunteer team meeting
- Filling in an online feedback from
Volunteer feedback reports are presented to the Volunteering and Membership Subcommittee and help us to further improve the support we provide to volunteers.
Volunteer Resource Bank
If there is further information that would be useful to include in this area, please email: volunteering@ght.org.uk