Frequently Asked Questions

The opportunities are from all across the North West from lots of different settings where sport and physical activity takes place and include sports clubs, youth clubs, local authority schemes and so on.

Get Connected cannot guarantee that you will be safe when volunteering; however we have taken reasonable steps to make sure that the opportunities listed adhere to minimum standards and we will only promote opportunities that we feel will offer volunteers high quality experiences.

You can tell the system when registering what time you have available and this could range from individuals wanting to volunteer lots of hours every week to those who might want to do one or two one-day events each year. It's up to you! You can change your profile at any point if your commitments change.

Each opportunity should tell you the length of commitment required. This should also be something to discuss when first meeting your placement provider to ensure you have the same expectations. As a volunteer you shouldn't feel obliged to keep volunteering however it is good manners to let your placement provider know if you are thinking about stopping volunteering.

You don't necessarily need any! Your Get Connected profile will match you to your placement based on the information both parties provide.

Get Connected will inform you whether expenses are available when you view an opportunity. Typically Get Connected advises placements to reimburse reasonable travel costs to and from volunteering, you may also be able to claim for telephone calls, meals (when volunteering for a certain duration) and child care. Expenses may well be reimbursed to you in the form of a cheque. Please understand that some providers are entirely led by volunteers and reimbursement of expenses may not be possible.

You will receive information from your volunteer placement provider about whether training and qualifications may be available.

Information is taken from Volunteering Englands Information Sheets - where more in depth information can be found.

Job Seekers Allowance - you can volunteer as much as you like so long as you remain available for and are actively seeking work
Income Support - volunteering will not affect your income support status
Incapacity Benefit - you can volunteer for as long as you want
Disability Living Allowance - volunteering will not affect this

Click here for more information from Volunteering England

Yes, even if you are appealing against a decision to grant you asylum.

Click here for more information from Volunteering England

If you have refugee status or exceptional leave to remain then you are allowed to volunteer

Having a criminal record does not have to stop you volunteering. It will depend on several factors including the voluntary role you will be doing, what offences or convictions are on your record and the policy of the organisation you will be volunteering for. All volunteers may be required to complete a self disclosure or Criminal Records Bureau check.

Get Connected wants to provide opportunities that are open and available to as many people as possible - so yes! You can use the registration process to let potential organisations know if there is anything they can do to make getting involved easier. You could also discuss any needs or information about your disability or condition when meeting your volunteer provider for the first time

We really support young people volunteering but don't feel Get Connected offers you enough actual support in getting involved with volunteering - there are some excellent volunteer programmes specifically targeting your age group (14-25 through v and Step into Sport) - links to both websites - www.vinspired.com or http://www.youthsporttrust.org. You can still use the online journaling facility.
Click here to create your volunteering journal.

Some organisations like to meet you face to face before you start volunteering - this is an opportunity for you too - you can ask any burning questions you might have about the organisation or the role. You shouldn't think of this like a job interview as it should be quite informal. Make sure when you leave that you know what the next step is.

CRB stands for Criminal Record Bureau check and it describes a process where your personal information is cross referenced with police and other agencies databases and records to build up a picture of any convictions, cautions, warning or reprimands you may have. There are 2 levels of disclosure - standard and enhanced, these differ in cost (although shouldn't apply to volunteers) and in the number of agencies contacted. Typically you should only have to complete a disclosure if you are going to be volunteering in an environment with children or vulnerable adults. A copy of your disclosure will be sent to you and to the organisation that requested it - you may find it useful to keep a copy of your certificate as some organisations may accept it for other volunteering (see - I already have a CRB check)

This will depend on several factors - some not in your control! Your CRB check can take longer if for example you have moved house or area frequently, you have completed the form incorrectly, or haven't been able to provide certain types of ID. Most CRB's will be back to you within 6 weeks.

Some organisations will allow you to transfer your CRB from one organisation to another without you having to repeat the process. This can be as simple as you showing them your certificate or doing a portability statement - this is where you provide details from your certificate to your new organisation, they will then contact the organisation who did your CRB and inform them whether your check was suitable for their purposes.