Sample Volunteer Agreements

Volunteering England Sample Volunteer Agreement 1

Please adapt this sample document according to your actual working practices, so that it accurately describes them whilst reflecting relevant good practice and legal issues. Please also note that we are not able to accept responsibility for the use of this document by another group or organisation. This document is based on materials originally developed by Volunteering England.

Volunteer Agreement

This Volunteer Agreement describes the arrangement between [name of organisation] and you. We wish to assure you of our appreciation of your volunteering with us and will do the best we can to make your volunteer experience with us enjoyable and rewarding.

Part 1: The Organisation

Your role as a volunteer is [state nature and components of the volunteering role] and starts on [date]. This volunteering role is designed to [state how the volunteering role benefits the organisation].

You can expect [Name of organisation]:

1.Induction and training

To provide a thorough induction on the work of [name of organisation], its staff, your volunteering role, and the induction and/or training you need to meet the responsibilities of this role. The Volunteer Handbook provides full details of the organisation

2. Supervision, support and flexibility

To explain the standards we expect for our services and to encourage and support you to achieve and maintain them;
To provide a named person who will meet with you regularly to discuss your volunteering and any successes and problems;
To do our best to help you develop your volunteering role with us.

3. Expenses

To reimburse these expenses following the procedures in the Volunteer Handbook:
- Travel to and from home to [the place of volunteering] and during your work: see the Volunteer Handbook for rules on methods of travel and car mileage allowances
- Meal expenses to a maximum of £[ ]. (Expenses should be incurred through volunteering so to be eligible you should volunteer around meal times or for at least [ ] hours a day).
- Specialist clothing or equipment where this is required and provided by you.
- Actual cost of crèche, childminding fees, or other dependent costs incurred by you in order to be able to volunteer.
Please keep all your receipts to give to us when we reimburse your expenses.

4.Health and safety

To provide adequate training and feedback in support of our health and safety policy, a copy of which is in the Volunteer Handbook.

5.Insurance

To provide adequate insurance cover for volunteers whilst carrying out their volunteering roles which have been approved and authorised by us.

6.Equal opportunities

To ensure that all volunteers are dealt with in accordance with our equal opportunities policy, a copy of which is set out in the Volunteer Handbook.

7.Problems

To try to resolve fairly any problems, complaints, and difficulties you may have while you volunteer with us;
In the event of an unresolved problem, to offer an opportunity to discuss the issues in accordance with the procedures set out in the Volunteer Handbook.

Part 2: The Volunteer

We expect you:

To help [name of organisation] fulfil its [describe role/function/services which the volunteer will be helping with];
To perform your volunteering role to the best of your ability;
To follow the organisation’s procedures and standards, including health and safety and equal opportunities, in relation to its staff, volunteers, and clients;
To maintain the confidential information of the organisation and of its clients;
To meet the time commitments and standards which have been mutually agreed to and to give reasonable notice so other arrangements can be made when this is not possible;
To provide referees as agreed who may be contacted, and to agree to a Disclosure and Barring Service check being carried out where necessary.

This agreement is binding in honour only, is not intended to be a legally binding contract between us, and may be cancelled at any time at the discretion of either party. Neither of us intends any employment relationship to be created either now or at any time in the future.

Volunteering England Sample Volunteer Agreement 2

Please adapt this sample document according to your actual working practices, so that it accurately describes them whilst reflecting relevant good practice and legal issues.

Volunteer Agreement

Volunteers are an important and valued part of [organisation name]. We hope that you enjoy volunteering with us and feel a full part of our team.

This agreement tells you what you can expect from us, and what we hope from you. We aim to be flexible, so please let us know if you would like to make any changes, and we will do our best to accommodate them.

We, [organisation name], will do our best:

To introduce you to how the organisation works and your role in it and to provide any training you need. The initial training agreed is [ ].
To provide regular meetings with a main point of contact so that you can tell us if you are happy with how your tasks are organised and get feedback from us. Your manager’s/supervisor’s name is [ ].
To respect your skills, dignity, and individual wishes and to do our best to meet them.
To reimburse your travel and meal costs up to our current maximum*.
To consult with you and keep you informed of possible changes.
To insure you against injury you suffer or cause due to negligence*.
To provide a safe workplace*.
To apply our equal opportunities policy.
To apply our complaints procedure if there is any problem.

I, [name of volunteer], agree to do my best:

To work reliably to the best of my ability, and to give as much warning as possible whenever I cannot work when expected.
To follow [organisation name]’s rules and procedures, including health and safety, equal opportunities, and confidentiality.

*More details on these issues are provided in the volunteer handbook.

Note: this agreement is in honour only and is not intended to be a legally binding contract of employment.