Volunteers

Who are the Benevolent Fund Volunteers and what do they do?

The Benevolent Fund strategy highlights the essential role of Volunteers in the work of the Fund, especially with respect to providing individual support to members and families who need colleague support rather than money. The Volunteers are the human face of the Fund. Within the Network, three roles have been identified for the Volunteers.

These are:

• Regional Volunteer Co-ordinator (one per Region within the British Isles, nine in total)
• Local Section Benevolent Fund Representative
• Volunteer Visitor  

Regional Volunteer Co-ordinators

Bring together the Volunteer Network in the Region and provides a link with central activities and with other member Networks locally.

They act as a point of contact for the Fund office concerning beneficiaries and members needing support and allocate Volunteer Visitors or a Specialist Volunteer Visitors as appropriate. Other responsibilities include:

• Visiting applicants requiring financial assistance from the Fund to provide checks and reports for the Committee
• Undertaking joint visits with the volunteer visitor or the Fund office to particularly demanding clients
• Maintaining an overview of each Local Section in the Region and alongside the Local Section Benevolent Fund Representative
• Recruiting, supports and appraising Volunteer Visitors in consultation with Fund staff and with their Local Section Benevolent Fund Representative (where appropriate)
• Jointly with the Fund office organises Regional Training and local Central Training

Local Section Benevolent Fund Representatives

This group of volunteers are appointed by their Local Section. They receive a list of relevant members resident in their Local Section and allocate these members as appropriate amongst the section's team of Volunteer Visitors on a geographical basis.

Volunteer Visitors

Volunteer visitors work with their Local Section, Regional Volunteer Co-ordinator, the Benevolent Fund office and other networks and acts as a local point of contact with the Fund for members of all ages.