How to volunteer

Waveney Mow & Grow (WMNG) believes that:

Everyone should have the chance to volunteer if they want to.
Everyone has something to offer.
Volunteering must be done through free will and choice.

Mow & Grow aims to improve the life of elderly, disabled or housebound residents of the Waveney District by providing a gardening service. Volunteers are needed to do gardening – mowing, strimming, pruning, weeding and sweeping.

No skills or qualifications required but some gardening experience would be helpful.

So if you are aged 14 or over with a reasonable level of fitness then please get in touch.

Click here to download an application form

WMNG promises to you, the volunteer

We will…

Treat you with respect and dignity regardless of your age, race, sex, sexuality and other factors as set out in our Equal Opportunities Policy. As you are a volunteer and not an employee, you will not have the same legal rights or protection as an employee, but we will treat you as part of WMNG and your contribution will be valued.
Provide health and safe environment in which to work.
Make those WMNG written policies, which apply to volunteers accessible to you. Ensure that you are adequately covered by our insurance for your voluntary work.
Help you to achieve your potential in your voluntary role.
Offer you reasonable, appropriate induction/orientation/training to enable you to carry out your voluntary role safely and effectively.
Explain the standards WMNG expects for its services, employees and volunteers.
Encourage you to claim any reasonable, essential expenses incurred as part of your voluntary work. Procedures for claiming expenses will be explained to you.
Provide you with a basic description of your voluntary role and the terms under which you will be volunteering with WMNG. You will be assigned a role, which is worthwhile and does not involve work, which is against your principles.
Deal with any complaint or grievance you have in accordance with our policies.
Allocate a person to supervise your voluntary work.
Provide you with any essential equipment needed for you to perform your voluntary role.
Obtain satisfactory references before you start volunteering. If these are later found to be incorrect or fraudulent, WMNG reserves the right to end the voluntary placement. This also applies to your written statements with regards to criminal offences or known impediments to you volunteering satisfactorily. Your placement will have been offered to you in accordance with information we received at the time of application. Please inform your manager if your circumstances change.
Tell you in advance if Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks are needed and if so, whether you can start your placement before the results are known. Until then you may be able to start volunteering in-group situations but not with vulnerable people on a one-to-one basis. In general CRB checks are not required for office volunteers.
Keep your personal information confidentially in accordance with our Confidentiality Policy and Data Protection Act 1998. We will only disclose the information you give us with your consent.
Give you as much notice as possible if volunteering days/times and tasks need to change. We will negotiate with you to try to make alternative arrangements. Also see ‘Exit Procedure’ below.

Promises made by you the volunteer

You will…

Perform your volunteering role to the best of your ability, seeking help when needed.
Not over commit yourself or take on more responsibility than you can handle.
Accept feedback and provide input on ways your tasks might be better performed.
Take shared responsibility for the safety, health and well being of everyone who enters the environment in which you are volunteering. This includes abiding by WMNG Health and Safety Policy.
Inform your manager when you arrive and when you leave each time you volunteer. This is for your protection.
Give as much notice as possible of anticipated absences and telephone your manager promptly on the morning of your usual attendance if you are ill and unable to volunteer that day. Someone can do this on your behalf if you cannot.
Be open-minded and respectful towards opinions shared with you.
Respect those confidences entrusted to you. This includes maintaining the confidentiality information of WMNG; it’s employees and service users in accordance with our Confidentiality Policy.
Do your utmost to attend certain free training courses organised by WMNG. (See Training below)
Attend some team meetings.
Try to resolve fairly any problems, grievances and difficulties you may have while you volunteer with WMNG. You will raise issues promptly, initially with your manager and thereafter, if necessary using the appropriate procedures as set out below (Grievance and Disciplinary Procedures).
Treat everyone you come into contact with during the course of your voluntary work with respect and dignity regardless of their Age, race, sex, sexuality and other factors as set out in our Equal Opportunities Policy.
Follow the WMNG rules, procedures and standards.