At Thornton Lodge Action Group volunteers are a dedicated bunch who help to make sure that all of us with mental health or other problems have somewhere to turn. Whether its welcoming service users, making hot drinks, assisting the facilitator, setting up rooms or getting creative around Thornton Lodge Community Centre there’s plenty you can do to help out.
Remember there’s no need for volunteering to be a big, time-consuming commitment. If you wish you can dedicate 1 hour a week and this can make a huge difference.
Benefits of volunteering
Learning New Skills – Skill development through volunteering can assist with exercising your brain and helps improve memory and enhances focus. It helps increase creativity and encourages creative thinking enabling you to generate fresh ideas and approaches to various aspects of life and work.
Gain Qualification – By gaining a qualification and learning new skills you will meet new people and gain valuable experience that you can take in to your future career. Volunteering whilst studying will also give you the opportunity to explore an area of work that is of interest to you.
Meet New People – Volunteering will give you the opportunity to practice and develop your social skills, through volunteering you will be meeting regularly with a group of people with common interests. Once you have momentum it will be easier to branch out and make more friends and contacts.
Confidence Building – Boost your confidence and self esteem through volunteering, it can help you overcome barriers such as shyness, anxiety, low mood or low self confidence. By taking on new responsibilities through volunteering
FAQ
Who can volunteer at Thornton Lodge Action Group?
Anyone can volunteer and we really appreciate the help we get from supporters. We always have opportunities coming up so register your details with us and we will get in touch with you
Will I be interviewed?
Most opportunities will involve an informal chat so you can find out more about Thornton Lodge Action Group and what the opportunity involves. The recruitment process depends on the type of volunteering role it is.
Will my expenses be paid?
Yes. You will be paid for reasonable expenses like travel and lunch. The exact expenses you can claim for will be confirmed once you start your volunteering role.
Will volunteering affect my benefits?
No. Volunteering does not affect the benefits payments you receive. But you should tell your benefits advisor when you start volunteering.
Do you offer training to volunteers?
We give any training or inductions you’d need to carry out your volunteering role. The training you get will be different depending on what volunteering role you’re doing.
Can I leave if I don’t like it?
Yes! We want all our volunteers to have a worthwhile and positive experience. We always welcome feedback on how we could make our volunteering better.
Are you using volunteer roles to replace paid members of staff?
As a charity, we depend on our volunteers to help us with our work. Thornton Lodge Action Group has a policy that means volunteer roles are never used in place of paid roles. Volunteers are usually recruited on a time-limited basis to work on specific projects.
Thornton Lodge Action Group firmly believes that a volunteer is someone who is unpaid and gives up their own time, of their own free will, to support TAG.
What’s your policy with DBS checks?
As part of our safeguarding policies, we ask you to tell us if you have any convictions that are unspent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
As part of our equal opportunities policy, we aim to ensure we don’t discriminate against ex-offenders. However, some posts at Thornton Lodge Action Group are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 because they involve vulnerable adults or young people. These roles need a DBS check.
By using the DBS to assess volunteers, we fully comply with the DBS Code of Practice. We’re committed to treating all applicants equally and undertake not to discriminate unfairly against the subject of a positive disclosure.
If you are interested in volunteering please download and complete the volunteering enrolment form by clicking the button below.
Please email the form to us at office@tactiongroup.org.uk and someone will be in touch.
