Volunteering is choosing to help or do something for the benefit of others, your community or the environment, without being paid to do it. Volunteering is open to everyone and can bring great personal rewards.
A great way to:
There are many opportunities and ways to volunteer. There are lots of organisations that would appreciate your time!
Become a befriender, treasurer, coach, first responder, community transport driver, wildlife or conservation volunteer…the possibilities are endless.
The Lincolnshire Community and Voluntary Service (LCVS) alongside Voluntary Centre Services (VCS) and the Lincolnshire Voluntary Engagement Team (LVET), have a digital platform supporting volunteering across the county. Register your interest in volunteering or search for volunteering opportunities through the Lincolnshire Volunteers website.
Discover volunteering opportunities and apply to be apart of a volunteer community via Lincolnshire County Council's website visit Apply to be a volunteer – Lincolnshire County Council
Many charity organisations need volunteers to take part in research or to raise money for their cause, such as Parkinson’s research, Dementia research, Cancer research, Multiple Sclerosis research, and Mental Health research.
The national volunteering website is also available www.doit.life/volunteering
The East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS currently provides Non-Emergency Patient Transport Services (NEPTS) in Lincolnshire. The EMAS Volunteer Car Service is an integral and valued part of NEPTS, providing an invaluable service to the community for patients with a medical need for transport, and who would otherwise be unable to get to their appointments. They are continually looking for volunteer drivers to use their own car to take patients to and from hospital appointments.
If you are interested and can help visit EMAS Volunteer Car Service find out more from the EMAS volunteer car driver video https://youtu.be/D-eyfwvQ4R0
The Lincolnshire Community and Voluntary Partnership | LCVP supports community schemes to recruit volunteers and supports them to develop throughout Lincolnshire. The community transport schemes are dependant upon volunteer drivers, if this is something you or someone you know, would be interested in, please contact Enquiry@lincolnshirecvs.org.uk. Please take a look at this video for an Insight into Community Transport in South and East Lincolnshire - YouTube
Volunteer Centres are a one-stop shop for volunteer recruitment, as well as offering a range of good practice resources, training, and expertise to help you manage and retain your volunteers. Organisations from all sectors can ink to potential volunteers matching interests and needs.
Your organisation can make use of the free service to advertise opportunities and recruit new volunteers. The database is used by Voluntary Centre Services (VCS) and Lincolnshire (LCVS) to promote and manage volunteering activity. Register and start creating opportunities and accessing great volunteers (teamkinetic.co.uk)
The platform offers some additional benefits such as :
If you require any support to register your organisation on the system, contact volunteer coordinator Abbi Taylor to book a 1-1 registration meeting – email: abbi@voluntarycentreservices.org.uk
The national volunteering website www.doit.life/volunteering is also available to advertise your organisations volunteering opportunities.
The Lincolnshire Community and Voluntary Partnership team offer a free web-based information advice service for organisations looking for sources of funding to help them grow and develop. Offering a range of resources and information that you can use in aiding you in setting up your group or developing your projects. You can book a groups development appointment online, find local and national funding opportunities and links to relevant local county strategies here Group Support And Funding | LCVP
The Lincolnshire Community Foundation’s mission is to create a county of thriving places where the people that live in them are healthy, happy, resilient and empowered. They provide advice on social enterprise and help on how to apply for community group funding through various grants. Visit Lincolnshire CF’s Grants webpage to find which grants are currently available Available Grants – Lincolnshire Community Foundation (lincolnshirecf.co.uk)
Definitions
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Local Government Funding |
Grants are available from a wide range of local government sources (County / District / Borough Councils or Parish Councils). |
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National Grant Funding |
There are a number of organisations that provide grants. (e.g., the National Lottery Community Fund). They will provide a much larger amount of money than local or charitable sources. |
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Regional Grant Funding |
Most common regional grants tend to be set amounts of money from central government or regional or local bodies such as a local authority. |
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International Grant Funding |
Tends to be available for much larger projects that have a common interest amongst other countries. (e.g. European Union). |
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Charitable Trust Funding |
These are philanthropic organisations which means that they exist to give money to charitable causes. Grants are awarded to support projects that meet their own charitable objectives. Visit the Lincolnshire Community Foundation website for information on local charitable trust funding. |
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Fundraising |
There are a number of different ways to raise funds for your group that do not mean that you have to sign up to terms and conditions. Some of these options include approaching local companies or organisations, individuals, hosting events, running own fundraising events, generating income, gift-aid or trading services. Your group might like to set up a “sub-committee” who will focus on fundraising for the group and can include people who have relevant skills to spread the workload and they don’t need to be part of your Management Committee. |
The Fundraising Regulator has formed a Code of Fundraising Practice. The Code outlines both the legal rules that apply to fundraising and the standards designed to ensure that fundraising is open, honest, and respectful. The Fundraising Regulator provides a membership service which includes a self-assessment against the Code of Practice along with a promise which helps to ensure that organisations raising money for charity from the public do so honestly and properly. A condition of membership is that the code of practice and promise is adhered to by the charity, whilst support is also given to the charity by the Regulator. The Charity Commission - GOV.UK
Any voluntary group with an annual income of more than £5000 must register with the Charity Commission.
Definitions
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Community Group |
Small, informal organisations and self-help groups that often work at the local level (e.g., luncheon clubs, art and craft, social group, common interest). Run by volunteers to carry out activities and don’t usually employ staff. |
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Social Enterprises |
Businesses that trade commercially but with a social purpose (e.g., a community owned shop). They will reinvest some or all profit back into the business or local community. |
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Third Sector |
Part of the community that isn’t the state (e.g., councils, NHS) or private sector. Will include voluntary groups such as registered charities and community organisations with a primary social purpose. |
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Not for profit |
Organisations that do not distribute profits to private individuals (shareholders) and are expected to reinvest their profits into their social purpose. |
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Civil Society |
A term normally used by Government. People acting together and independently to make a positive difference to their own lives or those of others. It can include a wide range of other organisations such as: co-operatives, housing associations, employee owned businesses, religious and educational organisations and building societies. |
Useful links when setting up your group:
Ethical fundraising, sustainable giving | Fundraising Regulator
Office of the Regulator of Community Interest Companies (CIC) - GOV.UK
Lincolnshire Health Intelligence Hub (LHIH)
Useful links when running your group:
Acas | Making working life better for everyone in Britain
Action with Communities in Rural England - ACRE
HSE: Information about health and safety at work
Charities and Community Amateur Sports Clubs enquiries - GOV.UK
National Council for Voluntary Organisations | (NCVO)
Safeguarding is Everyone’s Business……
The Lincolnshire Safeguarding Children Partnership (LSCP), Lincolnshire Safeguarding Adults Board (LSAB), Safer Lincolnshire Partnership (SLP) and the Lincolnshire Domestic Abuse Partnership recognise the unique role of Safeguarding Officers/Leads in the voluntary and third sector.
As organisational leaders our responsibility is to ensure that we:
To support you in your role, voluntary and third sector resources can be found on the LSCP page on the LCC website.
Equality and Diversity
