Why Volunteer

• Volunteering is a rewarding and enjoyable activity. Neighbourcare offers you an opportunity to play an active role in a service that is much appreciated within the community

• You will meet a wide range of interesting people who value your support

• You have flexibility, agreeing times on a weekly basis so that it fits in with your other commitments

• It need cost only your time as you can reclaim parking fees and travel expenses if you wish to do so. Currently, drivers can claim 45p per mile to cover travel expenses. (Petrol and wear and tear )

• When arranging appointments with clients, duty officers at the Neighbourcare Office do the liaison work.
• The Duty Officer contacts a volunteer on behalf of a client and arranges the driving job e.g.contact date and pick up time. This information is relayed to the client together with the volunteer’s first name for identification purposes.The volunteer will be given details of the job and a job number.

• You will be provided with the appropriate documentation such as ID cards, parking permits, record sheets and a Volunteer Handbook.

• Farnborough Neighbourcare is supported by Hampshire’s Good Neighbours Support Hub which means that drivers are also covered by their insurance for public liability, motor contingent liability and personal accident

• Volunteering, Benefits and Tax - there is sometimes confusion about whether volunteering affects an individual's State Benefit entitlement. You are required to inform Job Centre Plus about volunteering.  As long as it does not exceed the actual expense incurred, claiming expenses should have no bearing on your payment. Volunteers are entitled to re-imbursement for their expenses. It is reimbursement rather than extra income,  so would not usually need to be declared on a tax form.

For further information see Volunteering and State Benefits at www.volunteering.org.uk

• We are always keen to welcome new volunteers and add to our pool of drivers

You can see our current guidelines for drivers here and a Volunteer's Rights and Responsibilities here.

You can download a volunteer application from from the downloads page.