As a volunteer can I expect to get expenses?

Although voluntary work is freely given, people shouldn't be out of pocket from their volunteering. If you are helping an organisation which has funding, then you should expect reimbursement of genuine expenses for things like travel, meals & phone calls. You may have to complete a simple claim form.

For small charities run entirely by volunteers, there may be no resources to cover expenses, so if this is important to you, choose the group you join very carefully.

If you are given expenses and decide not to claim, you can always donate them back to the organisation.

It's important for everyone to find voluntary work which they enjoy and with which they feel comfortable. The Volunteer Bureau can help you choose from a huge variety of opportunities. If you need 1:1 support to get you started, DVB has a special project called Access.

No - that's definitely not right. Unfortunately there is a lot of confusion around JSA. You can do as much voluntary work as you want, providing you are actively searching for paid work. The organisation that you join will need to know that you'll need time out for signing on at the Job Centre and attending interviews. It's best to tell your benefits adviser that you are volunteering. And remember - the skills you pick up whilst volunteering can help you get a job!

Useful leaflets to pick up from DVB, Job Centre, Employment Service or web sites:-

DSS leaflet WK1

Employment Service JSAL7 (Rev) Jobseeker's Allowance. Voluntary Work when you're unemployed and it needn't affect your benefits!