FAQs

Questions frequently asked by Volunteers

Can I discuss my options with someone on the phone?
- Yes we have a telephone helpline that is staffed during office hours and they should be able to help you. Click here for the telephone number.
Where do the opportunities on JVN come from?
- Our volunteering opportunities come from four sources. Most of them are from Jewish organisations that have Jewish clients who would benefit from Jewish volunteers. Secondly there are several Jewish organisation that have put together teams of Jewish volunteers to carry our social issues work within the wider community. Thirdly there are mainstream organisations that have some Jewish clients who would benefit from a Jewish volunteer. Fourthly we list several national volunteering bodies who match volunteers to opportunities and we refer you to these organisations if you can't find anything that suits you among our opportunities. To list all the organisations represented click here for Our Network and of course if you would like to talk to us about your search then please contact us.
What can I expect once I've registered with JVN?
- If you register with JVN then you can experiment with matching yourself with our database of opportunities. We will also match you on a weekly basis against new opportunities that come in. We will send you an email (or phone you if that is your choice) to let you know about these opportunities that match your preferences. You may change your details at any time by loging in and making any changes you wish. If you have any difficulties then do please contact us.
I 'm not being offered much choice from JVN. What should I do?
- Our system works from the information you give us. So, for example, if you say you only want to work with a specific type of organisation and very close to your home, you may find no opportunities emerging. In order to increase your choice, try widening your options. Include a wider geographic region, more causes and more times of the week. If the system still comes up with nothing, do please contact us so that we can recommend other routes for you.
What can I expect as a volunteer?
- We would like to think that you will get great satisfaction from your role as a volunteer. Many people feel that they gain more than they give. You might like to have a look at our case studies. More concretely you should be given a clear idea of your role, what's expected of you and what training or support you will be given. You should know who to turn to if you have anything to discuss. If you are not receiving satisfactory answers or you have no one to ask within the organisations please do contact us.
I'd like to get involved in the running of JVN. Is that possible?
- We are always looking for volunteers to help JVN in a wide range of tasks. Do please contact us and we can arrange to have a discussion.
Can I do volunteering from home?
- Yes we do have some volunteering opportunities that can be carried out at home. When you register, you need to 'tick' the box entitled 'work from home' as the Region in which you wish to work.
Will I get my expenses paid?
- All volunteers should be offered the reimbursement of their travelling expenses to and from their place of volunteering. Not only should they be offered these out-of-pocket expenses but they should be positively encouraged to apply for them. Some volunteers feel uncomfortable taking money from a voluntary organisation and therefore they do not apply. However, this behaviour makes it uncomfortable for those who really need their out-of-pocket expenses. Volunteers should all be encouraged to apply and those who feel that they have no need for this refund, should quietly donate the money back.
How much time do I need to give?
- Some volunteering involves several hours a week and some only a few hours each month. Some opportunities are 'one off', some short term and some on-going. You will have the opportunity to indicate how much time you wish to give, and each opportunity on JVN will specify what will be expected so you can make an informed choice.
How long will I have to commit for?
- As a volunteer you are free to leave whenever you like but just as in a paid job, you would try to give some notice if you can. If you are leaving because you are dissatisfied then ideally you would talk to your supervisor to see if you can sort things out. If you would like to find a different volunteering opportunity then do carry out a search on our website. If you register with us we can send you new Matches once a week as new opportunities come up. If you need more help then please contact us.
What skills will I need?
- That depends entirely on what you choose to do. Some voluntary work demands no specific skills, while other tasks may require skills. Each opportunity on JVN will specify what is required.
Will I need to provide references?
- Most organisations require a certain level of background information about you before they engage you as a volunteer and this will usually entail the request for some kind of reference. This would usually be a statement indicating a referee's (ie a person who has known you for quite a while) opinion of your suitability for voluntary work. Some volunteer roles involve contact with children and other vulnerable people (eg the elderly or the disabled) and these organisations may wish to obtain more formal references from your past employers and may require checks from the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB).
What questions should I ask the organisations in which I'm interested?
- The following question would be important to ask: What will you want me to do?ho will show me what to do? What times will you need me and where?
  Who do I talk to if I have things about the volunteer work that I need to discuss?
What are the Criminal Records Bureau checks?
- These are checks that are done to ensure that anyone working with children or vulnerable adults does not have a criminal record. It entails filling out some forms and providing some proofs of identity. Click here to get to the Criminal Records Bureau website.
If I've had CRB checks before, do I have to go through them again?
- Criminal Records Bureau checks are accurate only at the time they are done. It is therefore entirely possible that a new organisation would wish you to complete this procedure again if you are working with children or vulnerable adults. For more information contact the Criminal Records Bureau.
What will the organisations that might want my help, ask of me?
- You should look carefully at the description of the opportunity on the website. You should also feel comfortable to ask anything you don't understand. In addition they will expect you to be punctual and reliable and to do your best. They will expect confidentiality from you.
What do I do if I have concerns but I can't talk to my immediate supervisor?
- You are welcome to contact us to talk it through. Of course our discussion will remain confidential.
Can I volunteer if I'm under 16?
- We encourage schools to help their students get involved in volunteering activities but some organisations cannot insure volunteers under 16. If you have difficulties finding an opportunity then please contact us.
Can I work together with a friend?
- You can certainly try to do this but we would not be able to guarantee it. It will be up to the organisation to decide whether they wish to take on two friends together.
Will volunteering help me get a paid job?
- Many people see volunteering as an effective way of preparing them for a paid job. Volunteering can provide new/improved skills, experience and personal benefits such as increased confidence, which can assist a person get a paid job. If you are looking to get a paid job by volunteering, it may help you to work out what you require from the experience, in order to choose your voluntary work very carefully.
Who will manage me and how?
- It's important to work in an environment where you are supported and where you feel you have adequate representation. Use this question to find out how you will be managed when you are interviewed.
Will I get any training when I volunteer?
- Many organisations now provide training for their volunteers. You may receive induction about the organisation and you may have more task specific training. You may have formal training or you may receive training by working alongside someone more experienced. You should ask you supervisor what training is available if nobody has told you.
Can I do more than one job?
- This entirely depends on the free time you have available and when you are needed in each job. There are certainly many voluntary jobs that require an occasional meeting and these types of jobs could easily be combined with a more regular commitment. Similarly you may be able to combine volunteering work from home with other volunteer work. We would advise you, however, not to overload yourself in the first instance. It isn't fair to anyone to take on too much and then to have to back out.
Can I claim benefits while volunteering?
- Yes. The benefit regulations are clear that you can volunteer. You can find all the latest information about volunteering and benefits including Jobseekers Allowance and Incapacity Benefit from Volunteering England.
I am not a British national, can I volunteer in the UK?
- There are no restrictions on volunteering by EU nationals. The same goes for nationals of Iceland, Norway and Lichtenstein. People with refugee status (or who have exceptional leave to remain) and family members can do any type of work including volunteering. Asylum seekers and family members may volunteer - including whilst they are appealing against a decision to refuse them asylum. You can find the latest information about volunteering by non-EU nationals, and more details about volunteering by refugees and asylum seekers from Volunteering England. Asylum seekers and family members may volunteer - including whilst they are appealing against a decision to refuse them asylum. You can find the latest information about volunteering by non-EU nationals, and more details about volunteering by refugees and asylum seekers from Volunteering England.
Can I volunteer if I have a disability?
- Yes. There are disabled volunteers in all kinds of roles. If you have particular concerns, or are unable to find an opportunity, please contact us to discuss further options.
As a volunteer, will I be taking the job of a paid employee?
- Part of our mission at JVN is to encourage organisations to tap into the volunteer resource to enhance and improve their service. You will be carrying out work that would not be done at all if it weren't for volunteers.

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Questions frequently asked by voluntary organisations

What are our options if a volunteer that we have taken on isn't working out well?
- It’s only natural that it will take a period of time before a new volunteer feels totally comfortable in their new role. Approximately six to eight weeks is suggested. At the end of this period, the volunteer should have a face-to-face review with their line manager to see whether both sides are satisfied. If not, the volunteer might be moved to a different role of could be referred back to JVN to see if there is another placement that might work out better.
What can we do if a volunteer refuses to attend training that we provide?
- Ideally you will tell all volunteers at the time of recruitment that there is an expectation that they will attend training that you provide. If they have agreed to these conditions of engagement and then refuse to undergo the training, then you are entitled to tell them that their services are not required. Problems sometimes arise when volunteers have been working with you for many years and suddenly they are required to attend a training course. You may have to assess the volunteer’s ability to perform against bad will that may be generated if you insist. You may devise some other way of ensuring that such a volunteer is familiar with the course content and is capable of working to the required standard.
What are the minimum expenses that we should be offering volunteers?
- All volunteers should be offered the reimbursement of their travelling expenses to and from their place of volunteering. Not only should they be offered these out-of-pocket expenses but they should be positively encouraged to apply for them. Some volunteers feel uncomfortable taking money from a voluntary organisation and therefore they do not apply. However, this behaviour makes it uncomfortable for those who really need their out-of-pocket expenses. Volunteers should all be encouraged to apply and those who feel that they have no need for this refund, should quietly donate the money back.
Is there a minimum age for volunteers?
- This is entirely dependent on the insurance policy that you have in place for volunteers. You must check this out.
Is there a guide to best practice that we should be providing our volunteers?
- The national organisation called Volunteering England is a valuable resource to help organisation work better with volunteers. Their web address is www.volunteering.org.uk Then click on Resources for Managing Volunteers. If you are looking for something tailored to Jewish Organisations, some of the larger ones have their own standards. You could try asking for a copy of these documents. I hope that in the not too distant future JVN will provide the very material you’re looking for.
Is there any way that we can see the profiles of potential volunteers?
- The JVN system doesn’t make the profiles of potential volunteers available. We do, however, collect this information from volunteers who register in order to send them our monthly newsletter and to match them regularly against new opportunities that arise. If you have a specific need, or a one off need for a team of volunteers, you may contact us to ask for help.
How can we see volunteering opportunities other organisations are offering?
- There are two ways you can do this. You can click on Our Network at the top of the Home Page, which will allow you to choose from all the organisations that are represented on JVN. Click on an organisation that interests you will see their current opportunities listed. Alternatively you can use the system as a potential volunteer would: click ‘Want to Volunteer?’ on the Home Page. Scroll down to Quick Search. If you click ‘Find’ without entering any search criteria, a list of all the opportunities on the system with be presented to you. If you want to make a more selective search then enter relevant search criteria.

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