Volunteering with FVA

• Here at Fife Voluntary Action (FVA) we believe that everyone should have the opportunity to volunteer and make a meaningful difference to enhance their community, the environment and the lives of others. We don't just help hundreds of other organisations to recruit volunteers - we also recruit volunteers within FVA.
  
  

  We acknowledge that FVA would not be successful without the commitment and loyalty of our volunteers. We appreciate that volunteering is a two-way process, and the volunteering experience should be valuable and rewarding for the individual. For us, volunteering lies at the heart of everything we do, and we have extensive experience of volunteer management and support.
  
  The services we deliver have all been created and designed specifically to fill a gap in community need, where this need can’t be met by other partners or charities locally. These services would not be possible without our volunteers.
  
  We are proud to be Volunteer Charter Champions, and renewed our Volunteer Friendly Award accreditation in 2023. These accreditations demonstrate the value we place on volunteers and our good practice in volunteer involvement and management.
  
  Why volunteer with FVA?
  • We are committed to involving, valuing and celebrating the achievements of each volunteer as they progress through their volunteering journey
  • We have a fair and consistent recruitment process. Our application forms are also available in large print, paper and digitally
  • We pride ourselves on matching volunteers with flexible roles tailored to their availability, skills, abilities and needs
  • We have a variety of volunteering roles available from toenail cutting for those who struggle to cut their own toe nails, volunteers who have lived experience of mental health challenges and use their experience to support the improvement of service design and delivery across Fife and a befriending service for those aged 16 and over to reduce social isolation
  • Our volunteers receive a full induction and training prior to starting their role and ongoing training, development and support
  • A named contact provides day-to-day support and feedback is sought at regular review meetings
  • We pay travel expenses and other direct, out-of-pocket expenses
  • Your success as a volunteer links to our success. Celebration is a key part of your volunteering journey, and we hold volunteer lunches and recognition ceremonies
  • We are currently working towards the Investing in Volunteers Award which is the UK quality standard for good practice in volunteer management.
  
  Start your volunteering journey with us and make a positive difference to others and your own wellbeing. We can’t wait to welcome you to FVA and support you on your volunteering journey. Your time can change lives.
  
  

Volunteering Bulletin

Will volunteering affect my benefits?

Volunteering will rarely impact on any benefits that you receive- in fact, it's recognised as a valuable activity in jobseeking, and can be built into your Universal Credit claimant commitment. You should always advise your Work Coach before you start volunteering, to ensure that your work is properly recognised. If you have expenses repaid to you by an organisation you volunteer with (e.g. travel expenses), these will not be classed as earnings and won't affect your benefits.