This page answers some of the most common questions about VALUES volunteering.

Q: Can anyone with a learning disability volunteer?

A: Yes, although in practice it depends on there being the relevant support available. Sometimes one-to-one support can be provided but more often volunteering takes place in a supported group or the charity where someone volunteers is able to provide the support themselves.

Q: How do I know that the volunteering, or paid work, would be safe?

A: All placements are thoroughly checked for health and safety with risk assessments conducted for each task and each individual. Only placements in reputable charities are offered. All staff and volunteers are trained and CRB checked and know what to do in an emergency. No-one is left on their own until or unless they are completely happy to be doing left.

Q: How will transport to and from the placement be organised?

A: It depends on the needs of each individual?If someone can be trained to travel independently, that will always be the first option, but if not, the project has access to Council-paid for transport?

Q: Will volunteering or working affect benefits?

A: With volunteering it never does, unless on Incapacity Benefit someone demonstrates that they could be working. With paid work, after someone has earned £20, it does come off the benefit level, but no-one is penalised for undertaking paid work: it cant make you less well-off. The benefits position can be complicated but VALUES staff can help you with this issue.

Q: What support does VALUES provide?

A: VALUES has regular Review meetings with all it’s volunteers or people being supported into employment, but it is staffed every day and there is always someone around to deal with any issues that come up.

Q: Once you volunteer, does it cause any problems just to stop?

A: No, volunteering is – by definition – voluntary: a volunteer can stop volunteering at any time. But most people with a learning disability come to really enjoy their volunteering, and even if they drop one session, like to replace it with another somewhere else. Volunteering is an activity where your ability will tend to get appreciated rather than your disability being an issue.