VCEL
Frequently Asked Questions
We’ve compiled a list of the most frequently asked questions we receive. Simply choose your topic links below or get in touch for more help.
Volunteering FAQs
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As much or as little as you like. There are volunteering opportunities from one hour a month to a few days a week.
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No. There are many opportunities that don’t require qualifications. Some skilled posts will require relevant qualifications, but your local volunteer centre will help you find something that suits you.
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People volunteer for many different reasons. Making a difference to the lives of others is immensely rewarding, but the benefits don’t stop there. Volunteering can give you the skills and confidence you need to get back into work, climb the career ladder or even just expand your circle of friends.
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Yes. You can volunteer whilst claiming benefits, but you still have to be actively seeking work and you must inform Jobcentre Plus that you are doing so.
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Most organisations provide training relevant to the opportunity role. However the training can take the form of basic on the job instructions up to a 12 week course depending on the opportunity. Full information will be provided by the organisation.
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Yes. Some opportunities are designed for teams of volunteers, whilst others are looking for individual volunteers.
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Many volunteer organisations will refund expenses, such as travel or meal costs, but you should check with them before you start volunteering.
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Yes. An increasing number of people are getting involved from home. For example, you could be a telephone or e-mail befriender, lobby decision makers on behalf of a charity you believe in, research information to support work, or even foster a pet.
Community Support FAQs
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If you are over the age of 35 you will be able to link with our Service via Social Work, your GP or other Health Care professional such as OT/Physio/Community Link worker, unfortunately you are unable to self-refer direct into the service.
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Unfortunately, we would be unable to provide a daily meal service on a one-to-one basis, where an individual has not been assessed as requiring a Package of Care to provide meal preparation, we would be able to assist the individual to link with a local lunch club and/or discuss such options such as Wiltshire/Appetito.
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Absolutely, we can link you with organisations such HCL or the Royal Voluntary Service who actively participate in this activity.
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This would be subject to a review. We would come out and discuss your individual circumstances and if you qualified, we would assist you in completing the appropriate forms.
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We would come out and complete your initial assessment and we would sign post you to local cleaning companies.
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Yes, we can sign post you to Recycling First where they have a wide range of household items.
Young People FAQs
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Young people who have a sibling with additional support needs.
Young people who are receiving support through CAMHS or another mental health service.
Young people who have chaotic lifestyles or home environments.
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Social Work, CAHMS, Guidance Teachers from schools, Young Carers East Lothian, Families Together East Lothian or other Mental Health Professionals.
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No, the referral must come from a professional working alongside the Young Person.
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Ages 8-16yrs
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Yes, if they are age 16 at the time of referral.
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Have you read and understood the charity’s governing document and have you seen the plan of what your charity will do?
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You can become a trustee from the age of 16, although unincorporated charitable organisations may require individuals to be 18. Ideally, your skills, knowledge and experience should match the post. You cannot be a trustee if you have been disqualified from a previous trusteeship unless the charity commission has waived this disqualification.
The governing document of each charity can impose other restrictions, for example, certain locality or religious denomination, but these restrictions must comply with the Equality Act 2010. You must be a fit and proper person, which is presumed unless HMRC holds information which proves the contrary, and you should undertake a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check.
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As trustee, you will always have to act in the charity’s best interest and make clear any conflicts of interest you may have. You must also:
• Manage the charity’s resources responsibly and implement financial controls if needed
• Act with reasonable care and skill by getting appropriate guidance and advice
• Attend trustee meetings
• Comply with governing documents and the law
• Ensure that the charity is carrying out its purposes for public benefit as set out in its governing document
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If you’ve not been a Trustee before, what transferable skills do you have, noting the kinds of duties you will be partaking in as above.
Trustee FAQs
Start Ups FAQs
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Your charity name should give an indication of who your charity is.
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Your charity must benefit, relieve and provide assistance to a significant cause, group or community, and the long term goal should be to make changes either in society, the environment or whatever aspect of the world it concerns.
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Do you have a specific project to deliver in a set timescale?
Will the charity be an ongoing long-term venture?
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Where will you operate from?
Will you have premises?
Will you work in a specific location or across various local authorities?
If your application is successful a contact address will need to go on the Scottish Charity Register. This can be:
a) the address of the principal office of the charity or,
b) if the charity does not have a principal office the name and address of one of the charity trustees.
If you are a SCIO this address must be in Scotland.
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How much will you need and where will it come from?
How will you keep the charity going?
Will you have a sustainable funding model?
You should note that public sector funding is becoming increasingly stretched and donations from the public are not always a sustainable source.
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Do you have a team ready to be charity trustees?
A charity needs people to run it. All charities must have charity trustees; some charities have members, staff and/or volunteers.
The role of a charity trustee is similar to the director of a company – they might not do all the day to day work but they are the people who are legally responsible for the charity.
Certain people are disqualified from acting as charity trustees. However, OSCR have the power to waive a disqualification if a person applies to us and meets the relevant criteria.
Those who are disqualified are:
• someone with an unspent conviction for dishonesty or an offence under the 2005 Act
• someone who is an undischarged bankrupt or has a Protected Trust Deed to pay off debts with creditors
• someone who has been removed under either Scottish or English Law from being a charity trustee
• someone who is disqualified from being a company director
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Acting in the interests of the charity.
Acting with care and diligence.
Preparing and submitting accounts every year.
Providing information to the public.
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Assets can include: Premises, like an office / Equipment / Vehicles
Costs can include: Utilities / Taxes / Rent / Licences / Insurance / Salaries / Pensions
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You might not want to think about it at this stage, but if you decide that you don’t want the charity to continue there are legal processes you must follow. You can’t just walk away or put the charity on hold - there’s no such thing as a ‘dormant’ charity.
Pantry Frequently Asked Questions
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We will only require your door number and postcode, we will also ask how many adults and children reside in your household and if you are taking certain items, such as baby milk or sanitary products. No personal information will be taken or tracked.
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You can come along when it is needed. If you feel you need to come more than twice a week, we would advise you request a foodbank referral, which can be done within our reception area. This is because the foodbank will have more stock to be able to provide a more substantial range of food over a longer period of time. Our stock is only based on an emergency 24-hour supply.
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The pantry is open from 10:00 to 14:00 each day. We also have a range of “no contact” goods, which are left outside the door each morning for the community to access.
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There is no cost for the service. Our community pantry is an emergency-based service for essential needs.
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We get a range of donations from the community, local shops such as Asda and Lidi, and Fareshare.
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This will depend on stock, but we do try and keep a range of cat and dog food available.
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This again depends on stock, but we do try and keep a range of toiletries, such as body wash, toothpaste, and shampoo.
Kindness Cafe FAQs
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Yes, it’s open to all locals and visitors of all ages
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Every second Wednesday of the month
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No, you can come along anytime you like
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Tea, coffee and biscuits
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The Inspiring Volunteer Awards are all about celebrating the amazing efforts and achievements of volunteers in East Lothian. An annual celebration, it takes place during Volunteer’s Week, from the 1-7th June. There are seven award categories in total.
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Apart from the Community Volunteer Award, nominations are usually made by local third or public sector workers. This would include (but is not restricted to):
• A volunteer co-ordinator or other member of staff from a local charity
• A member of staff from East Lothian Council who has worked with volunteers
• An elected member of East Lothian Council
• The Chair or an office bearer of a local community council
• The manager of a local development trust or social enterprise
• A charity trustee or board member
• An NHS worker who has worked with volunteers
• A teacher who has worked with volunteers
If you’re a member of the public and want to nominate for any category other than the ‘Community Volunteer Award’ (which has a more flexible nomination process), the best thing to do is approach one of the people from the list noted above and chat with them about the possibility of submitting a nomination jointly. If you are unsure about the nominations process please get in touch with Volunteer East Lothian to discuss further.
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We recognise that volunteering can occur informally and isn’t always linked to a local charity or voluntary association. This is certainly true for a lot of the volunteering that happened during the pandemic.
If you live in East Lothian and want to nominate somebody for the Community Volunteer Award you must provide details for at least one local charity or public sector worker (from the list in the answer above) who is willing to support your nomination. We recommend that you let people know that you plan to nominate them. We will then contact the ‘referee’ separately to verify the nomination before contacting the nominee.
If you need help with making a nomination in this category, please get in touch as we can assist. events@volunteereastlothian.org.uk, or 01875 615 423
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Nominations can be made by completing an online form on this website. The nomination form is open a few months before the ceremony, please sign up to our newsletter below to be notified of when it’s open.
You’ll find the deadline for nominations at the top of the form.
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Completion of the nomination form is the main part of the process. For the Community Volunteer Award, nominations must include the details of one public or third sector worker who is willing to support the application.
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Awards are judged using the information provided on the nomination form, so it’s important to include plenty of detail. A small team of independent judges decide who wins each category.
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Once you’ve read these FAQ’s and decided that you want to make a nomination, it’s a good idea to tell the person or team you’re nominating. They’ll probably be thrilled to find out! They may also want to know more about how the awards work and what will happen if they do win their category. Awards will involve promotion via social media and other digital channels such as Volunteer East Lothian’s website, so you may want to discuss that with them too.
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Remember to provide plenty of detail about what has been achieved by the nominee. The judges won’t know anything about the person or team concerned, so give as much information as possible about them and their unique contribution. Focus on the volunteer, not the group or organisation they volunteer for. The judges are interested in what makes the nominee deserve recognition, not the wider organisation.
Awards FAQs
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If you’re aged between 12 and 25 years, are already volunteering or about to begin your first volunteering activity
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First you sign up for your own My Saltire Account which makes it really easy to keep track of all your volunteering activity by logging your hours. You’ll then be ready to apply for a Saltire Award certificate and start gaining recognition for the great things you’re doing!
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Yes! By registering with the Saltire Awards you can also earn up to 3,000 Young Scot Reward Points with each Saltire Award you achieve. And you can link your volunteering activities to the Sustainable Development Goals
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You can visit the official Saltire Awards website or get in touch with us at VCEL for more information and support