Volunteering with Assistance Dogs N.I. is about making a difference to the lives of children with autism and wheelchair users in your community.
- It looks great on your CV – Employers are always impressed to see prospective employees activity involved in the world around them.
- You can learn new things – Whether it’s pricing, merchandising, retail sales experience, most of our voluntary opportunities give you the chance to develop new skills and gain confidence. You might actually like to make a career in the charity sector.
There are so many ways that you can get involved with Assistance Dogs NI.
Benefits to you
- Help you get fit and healthy in body and mind. Studies have shown that regular volunteering can have a positive effect on mental and physical health.
- Help you make new friends- useful if you are just new to the area or want to expand your social networks.
- Be a way of fulfilling your ambitions when your career hasn’t led you in the direction you expected.
- Help you gain new and develop existing skills and qualifications and build your confidence.
- Allow you to challenge yourself and experience things you wouldn’t otherwise.
- Gives you the opportunity to make a difference, put something back into your community.
- Open new and unexpected doors to you, you never know where your volunteering can take you.
- Help you find work if you are jobless and it can help you get a better job if you are already working.
A gift relationship
As a volunteer there is no obligation for you to attend or carry out the tasks offered, or to volunteer for a set period of time. Equally, ADNI is not obligated to provide you with regular tasks, payments or benefits for any activity that you undertake for the organisation.
Its ‘Volunteer Agreements’ are based on trust and mutual understanding and do not constitute a legally binding contract.
Our commitment to you
Whatever type of volunteering you do, we aim to ensure you:
- Feel welcome and have a good understanding of what we do and how you fit in.
- Are clear about the task to do and who you are responsible too.
- Are supported and feel part of the whole team.
- Have safe working conditions, including access to health and safety advice and guidance.
- Are supported, trained and supervised appropriate to your role and the tasks to be carried out.
- Know who to speak to if you have concerns or problems.
- Have a chance to put forward your ideas.
- Are valued and thanked for the gift of your time and your contribution.
- Receive regular and constructive feedback.
- Have your records kept in accordance with Data Protection legalisation?
- Are reimbursed for any previously agreed ‘out of pocket’ expenses.
Your commitment to us
- Learn about us and how your role fits in.
- Attend relevant training sessions and ask for support if you need it.
- Be reliable and tell us and other volunteers relying on you if you are unavailable or running late.
- Respect the need for confidentiality.
- Take responsibility and all necessary care to protect the health, safety and welfare of yourself and colleagues.
- Accept that you have a common duty of care in law to the other volunteers.
- Respect others, whatever the background or experience.
- Work within and support our policies, procedures and standards.
- Have regard to decisions made by us and be aware that ultimate responsibility rests with the ADNI Board of directors.
- Be accountable and accept constructive feedback.
- Maintain the high reputation and positive image of Assistance Dogs NI.
