For local people

Support to volunteer

For a variety of reasons some people may require a little bit of extra support to enable them to volunteer. This may because of low confidence or self-esteem, physical or learning disabilities or a number of other issues which are creating barriers to their volunteering. We can provide help to support people into volunteering.

We offer 2 different, tailored approaches to help those who are just leaving school (16+) and adults.

16+ Learning Choices - Volunteering as a Positive Destination

This service is available Fife wide and works specifically with schools and young people to enable volunteering to be offered as a 'Formal Offer' as part of the 16+ learning choices.

16+ Learning Choices is the new model for ensuring that all young people receive an appropriate, relevant, attractive offer of learning, well in advance of their school leaving date. As such it will facilitate delivery of Curriculum for Excellence entitlements, including support for positive and sustained destinations.

Offers include staying in school for S5 and S6, going to further or higher education, taking part in one of the national training programmes, or engaging in community learning and development opportunities, including very focused and personalised approaches.

Volunteering is recognised as an excellent opportunity for young people to develop skills for learning, skills for work and skills for life. It can offer:

  • Opportunities for learning
  • Access to free training such as moving and handling or food hygiene
  • Work experience
  • Work ethos and routine
  • Opportunity for current references
  • Opportunity to enhance CVs
  • An aid to transition from school to a work environment
  • A boost to confidence and self-esteem.

We can offer:

  • A tailored programme for the young person
  • An appropriate volunteering opportunity for the young person with an organisation, charity or statutory agency. Opportunities can include volunteering with children, older people, admin work, befriending, environmental work and more
  • On-going support for the young person
  • Saltire Awards - certificates, recognition and learning for volunteering.

For more information please contact us at [email protected] or 0800 389 6046.

Help to volunteer

We're here to help - contact us to find out how we can help you to find the perfect opportunity to suit your skills, experience, availability and ambitions!

Volunteering while on benefits

Volunteering should never affect your Benefits, and is often encouraged by Job Centres as a fantastic way to gain experience and references and to show that you have used your time productively.

It is important to make sure that your volunteering fits into the Department of Work and Pension's (DWP) definition and that you are meeting all of their requirements to ensure that it does not affect your benefits - please see below:

Volunteering is when you choose to give your time and energy to benefit other people without being paid for it. You could do voluntary work with any kind of organisation, including:

  • a charity, voluntary organisation or community group
  • a publicsector organisation, like your local council
  • a social enterprise supporting your local community, or
  • a local business.

It's not volunteering if you:

  • help out a family member
  • are given money apart from your expenses, or
  • are under contract to do it (this does not include any 'volunteer agreement' you may have).

The basic rules are that if you get Jobseeker's Allowance, you will still need to be looking for paid work. You must be free to go to an interview if we give you 48 hours' notice. You must be able to start work within one week of us giving you notice. You must not be paid money or anything else for volunteering. It's OK to be paid your expenses but you must tell us what you get. So make sure you can get hold of your receipts.

You must contact Jobcentre Plus if you want to do any volunteering. We will ask you to fill in a simple form telling us about the volunteering you want to do.

Source: Volunteering While Getting Benefits (pdf format)

Published by Job Centre Plus in February 2010

Another way to ensure that your voluntary work will not affect your benefits is to consult with your local Volunteer Centre - Fife Voluntary Action is the Volunteer Centre for the Fife Council area. We are able to offer advice and help you to find suitable volunteering opportunities.

Help to volunteer

We're here to help - contact us to find out how we can help you to find the perfect opportunity to suit your skills, experience, availability and ambitions!

Get in touch

Finding a volunteering role, and help for organisations that involve volunteers.

E-mail [email protected]

Telephone 0800 389 6046