Volunteer with us

Go to our volunteering vacancies section and have a look at the types of volunteer opportunities we have available and how to apply.

If you’re not sure what type of role you’re looking for and want to discuss your requirements before you start searching, please call the Volunteering Co-Ordinator on 01992 58 69 69 or email volunteer@carersinherts.org.uk

This depends on you and what you’d like to do for us. Many of our roles are flexible and whatever time you are able give us will be much appreciated. Some roles require a more specific time commitment and this is stated in the role description.

Volunteers should not be out of pocket as a result of volunteering for us! We reimburse reasonable travel costs, travel while volunteering and other expenses by arrangement.

For most roles we’ll invite you to meet us for a chat. It’s a chance for you to find out more about the role and the organisation and we can get to know you better and find out how to best match your skills and interest to our current needs.

We may wish to take up references although this will depend on the role.

Volunteer role descriptions will list any additional skills or experience you may need. Many roles just require your time, energy and enthusiasm!

Volunteers receive an induction and will be given all the training and support necessary to feel confident in the role. Staff members are on hand to provide ongoing help and support.

There are many ways in which you can volunteer to find opportunities please look at our role descriptions.  Carers in Hertfordshire is keen to nurture corporate relationships and work with companies to create rewarding challenges and projects to help the community.

If you can’t find what you are looking for or want to discuss your requirements in more detail, please contact volunteer@carersinherts.org.uk

Yes – a person can volunteer for as many hours as they like whilst getting benefits as long as they keep to the rules for getting them.

Volunteering will not affect jobseeker’s allowance (JSA) provided you:

• remain available for and are actively seeking a full time paid job
• take reasonable steps to find a job (e.g. answering adverts, signing up with an agency and taking other steps required by the Jobcentre Plus office)
• inform the Job Centre/ Jobcentre Plus office that you are volunteering
• can attend interview within 48 hours and take up work within one week.

A volunteer:

• receives no remuneration, only reimbursement of actual out-of-pocket expenses, which does not count towards the Job Seeker’s Allowance (JSA) ‘earnings disregard’
• can be contacted whilst volunteering if a job opportunity becomes available
• can be available at a week’s notice to start work or attend an interview with 48 hours’ notice.

Volunteering should not affect income support as long as you are not receiving any money other than reimbursement of expenses.

You should notify the relevant agency before starting if you receive Incapacity Benefit (IB), severe disablement allowance, employment and support allowance (ESA), carer’s allowance (CA) or industrial injuries disablement benefit.

Carers Allowance (CA) is not affected by volunteering unless it prevents you providing care for at least 35 hours each week. There is no limit to the number of hours someone can volunteer whilst in receipt of Incapacity Benefit (IB), though in the past some benefits agencies have claimed that volunteers who volunteer regularly and for a substantial (in their view) amount of time could be seen as fit for work.

Employment Support allowance (ESA) was introduced on 27 October 2008 and, for new claimants, replaces both Incapacity Benefit (IB) and income support paid because of disability or incapacity (although all claimants will be reassessed for Employment Support Allowance (ESA) by spring 2014). The regulations for Employment Suport Allowance (ESA) clearly state that claimants will be allowed to volunteer. The regulations also recognise that reasonable expenses can be reimbursed to claimants who volunteer.

There are some benefits that are not affected by volunteering and where the relevant agencies do not need to be informed that the person is volunteering. These include; state retirement pension, council tax benefit, housing benefit, statutory maternity pay, maternity allowance, war widow’s pension and widow’s pension.

Volunteering hours do not count towards Working Tax Credits and volunteering doesn’t affect Child Tax Credits.

If you still have any questions about volunteering after reading the FAQs section, you can email us at: volunteer@carersinherts.org.uk or ring 01992 58 69 69.