VOLUNTEERINGHANDBOOK

Your guide to volunteering at theStudents' Union

UNIVERS ITY OF MANCHESTERSTUDENTS ' UNION

CONTENTS

Page 3 -------------------------- WelcomePage 4 ------------------- Meet the TeamPage 7 --------------------- Staff SupportPage 10 ------- SU Volunteering ProjectsPage 15 ----------- Fundraising at the SU Page 17 ---------------------- CommitteePage 18 ------------ Volunteering HoursPage 19 -------------- University AwardsPage 20 --------------------- DBS ChecksPage 22 ------------------------- TrainingPage 23 ------------------------ ExpensesPage 24 ---------------------- Questions?Page 25 --------------- Important PolicyPage 26 ------------------------ ChecklistPage 27 ----------------------- Key Dates

*Please note: Plain large text documents, paper copies and otheraccess requirements can be made available on request. Email: volunteering.su@manchester.ac.uk

WELCOME TO YOURVOLUNTEERING

HANDBOOK!The volunteering and fundraising groups at

the SU take action to change the world aroundthem and we're really excited that you've

decided to get involved.

We hope you find this a useful introduction toyour project, but if you need help just email

our team onvolunteering.su@manchester.ac.uk or come to

a Zoom drop-in session.Mondays & Wednesday, links here:

Monday Volunteering Drop-in (11 AM - 12PM) bit.ly/VFmon

Wednesday DBS Drop-in (2 - 3 PM)bit.ly/VFweds

All the best,

The Volunteering and Fundraising Team

MEET THE TEAM

Jennifer (she/her)Volunteering &

Fundraising ManagerAccess & Widening

Participation Coordinator

Volunteering &Fundraising Intern

Amy (she/her)

Elisabeth (she/her)

WellbeingCoordinator

Sumaiya (she/her)

MEET THE TEAM

Ethan (they/them) Marium (she/her)Access & WideningParticipation Admin

Assistant

Volunteering SupportAssistant

Student AngelsSupport Assistant

Orla (she/her)Fundraising Support

Assistant

Natalie (she/her)

MEET THE TEAM

Laura (she/her) Vicky (she/her)Peer Buddy Scheme

AssistantPeer Buddy Scheme

Assistant

Peer Buddy SchemeAssistant

Isabel (she/her)Peer Buddy Scheme

Assistant

Candy (she/her)

Lebby (she/her)Peer Buddy Scheme

Assistant

The V+F Team is here to help you and your projectmake the most of volunteering.

How we can help:

STAFF SUPPORT

DBS Checksfiguring out if you need one,

processing them, ID checks, overseaschecks

Tea and a Chatwelfare, how are you doing,

wellbeing Information

Queriesanswering questions

Shouting about your workpromotion of your events, getting the

word out, advertising

Dealing with angry peoplesupporting you with difficult

conversations

Reportingvolunteer hub, databases, progress

tracking

Help with financebudget planning, reimbursements,

creating your budget

Health and Safetyrisk assessments, training and other

related things

Electionsanswering questions and helping you

through democracy related stuff

Transportarranging coaches/taxis etc for your

project or event

Trainingensuring that you have all the

training you need to be the best youcan be

Ideaswe're here to help you think aboutnew ideas for your projects, events,

or your time volunteering

IT Supportreset passwords,  help you if you're

locked out

Investing in youhelping you get the most out of your

time volunteering with the SU

VOLUNTEERING PROJECTS AT THE SU

Student Action groups work directly with localcommunities to address prominent issues

within Manchester:

Women's ProjectsOur two women's projects, the Burkhart project and the Direct Access project,supports women living in shelters and supported housing to cook meals and

run activity sessions for women with mental health issues.

Refugee & Asylum Seeker ProjectsOur Refugee and Asylum Seeker Conversation Club provides a safe and

supportive environment for sanctuary seekers to practice their English speakingskills through friendly conversation.

Accessibility ProjectsPeople with People connect young people with additional needs from acrossManchester with our volunteers with the aim of them enjoying fun, weekly

social activities together as a group of friends. Activities include arts & crafts,movie nights, meals out, zoo/aquarium trips and games evenings. This project

operates as both a Tuesday and a Wednesday group.

Children's ProjectsWillowbank project deliver fun and engaging sessions for children experiencinghomelessness in local temporary accommodation, sharing their knowledge and

skills with children living there.

Sustainability ProjectsBiko Bikes promotes cycling by refurbishing bikes to rent out to students for just £1 aweek and teaching bike maintenance skills. Their workshop can be found on the lower

ground floor of the Students' Union building. The Closet promotes sustainable fashion by holding vintage and sample clothing sales,

donating all profits to Manchester Mind. Incredible Edible is a community gardening project, transforming derelict land into

edible plots to grow fruit, vegetables and herbs for students and the local community.Want Not Waste is a student-run plastic-free shop, selling sustainable goods as well as hosting a

range of events such as such as clothes swaps, DIY/skill share workshops, and talks on livingsustainably. You can find their shop in its own building between the Students' Union and the

Academy building.

Homelessness ProjectsStudent Action’s homeless are part of the Coalition of Relief, which is a

group of organisations that have come together to help combat theproblems that homeless people face in Manchester. The Outreach projectaims to befriend and support rough sleepers in the city centre, providing a

hot drink and a chat. The Once a Month project aims to tackle periodpoverty by collaborating with local organisations to distribute sanitary

products to homeless women. Two of our projects, Stockport Food Projectand Strathclyde Women’s and Children’s Shelter Project collaborate with

occupants of temporary shelters to cook and share meals.

Our intergenerational projects invite elderly people from the local communityto parties and events, film afternoons, dance classes and trips throughout the

year. Due to COVID-19 a second scheme has been running since March2020, offering phone calls to elderly people during lockdowns for a nice chatand a catch up. The University of Manchester Buddy Scheme was set up in

response to COVID-19 and matches students with elderly people for chats inan effort to reduce loneliness.

Intergenerational Projects

The Student Angels is a night time street safety initiative whichsupports the Manchester community on nights out, providinganything from a chat and some water to first aid assistance.

In October 2020 we launched the Peer Buddy Scheme, where one

student can buddy up with another to offer some extra support,someone to talk to, or advice about their course and university life.Any student at the University of Manchester can become a buddy,although this role is particularly well-suited to those students in

their second year of study or above, who have more familiarity withthe University.

Wellbeing & Safety Projects

Access All Areas projects all have the sameaim - to improve access and widen

participation in education:

Primary School ProjectsBee a Baller run basketball training sessions in a local school, supportingthe progression of pupils at all levels of ability. Club MFL provides weekly

French and Spanish lessons to local primary school pupils. Code Club host aweekly after school club for pupils aged 7-11, teaching them the basics ofcoding using the programming language Scratch. FunFair hosts day-long

STEM workshop days for local primary school children before takingparticipants on a tour of campus. Medics in Primary Schools (MiPS) teach

weekly sessions on a range of topics such as Antibiotic Awareness to pupilsaged 8-11 years at local primary schools. Reading Mentors support pupils in

local primary schools (aged 5-11 years) with their reading. TraveLab is aproject that takes university students into local Manchester libraries to run

interactive, hands-on activities, to inspire, engage and create discussionwith the local public, particularly primary school-aged children. Think

Wildlife aims to build an ever-lasting interest in wildlife conservation inPrimary Students in order for them to prepare for it as a future career.Manchester Paediatric Dentistry Student Society (MPDSS) delivers oral

health education to primary school students in Manchester.

Secondary School ProjectsLIGHTSS run weekly workshops at schools and community centres tosupport GCSE students preparing for exams. Lunchtime Study Space

provides a relaxed environment for all students in years 10 and 11 to studyand receive drop-in tuition-free from teachers and parents.

Consider Postgrad is an annual event encouraging University ofManchester students to consider completing a postgraduate course. TheMMRSSoc Undergraduate Research Conference is an annual conference

for undergraduate medical students at the University of Manchester,offering opportunities to listen to renowned researchers present on theirarea of expertise, as well as attend workshops that are tailored to them.

Volunteers from the Society organise the conference, as well as hosting anessay competition for students.

Higher Education Projects

For more information about any of these projects check out the StudentAction website, the Access All Areas website, or the Volunteer Hub.

MedReach is an online mentoring programme for prospective Medicinestudents at local schools and sixth form colleges. Our ManchesterOutreach Medics (MOMs) host day-long workshops for sixth form

students on a range of topics including life as a Med student, medicalethics, communication skills, UKCAT and BMAT.

Further Education Projects

FUNDRAISING AT THE SU

RAG also run a variety of international challenges! Previous years included...

RAG works with local, national and international charitiesto spread awareness about current issues, whilst alsoproviding fun opportunities to raise money. RAG run a

variety of renowned Manchester based 'Home' Challengesincluding Jailbreak, BOGLE, Sleepout, Lost and the

Manchester Purple Wave.

Cycle from London to ParisMachu Picchu Salkantay Trek

Three Peaks ChallengeClimb Kilimanjaro

For more information about RAG, fundraising help, or RAGchallenges, check out the RAG website, the RAG Facebook

page, or email the V+F team.

RAG stands for Raise and Give and it is the Students'Union's fundraising branch. All of the fundraising thathappens in the Students' Union goes through RAG andthe V&F team also provides support and guidance to

student initiatives for their own fundraising.

FUNDRAISING GUIDANCE To ensure all fundraising undertaken by students issafe, legal and appropriate, the V&F team at the SU

are on hand to log and process fundraisers. Theyshould always be made aware about a fundraising

event, whether it's cash or online.

Cash FundraisingFor any fundraising event that includes cash donation collecting, collection

bucket hire forms can be filled out via the SU website. This form needs to befilled out before arriving to collect the buckets so that they can be preparedfor the date specified. Following a fundraising event, the buckets must bereturned to the SU with all the cash collected were it will then be counted

and processed. The SU will deposit the cash and send it to the chosencharity. Always check whether you require a permit for cash fundraising on a

given premise/in public.

Online Fundraising

Online fundraising is an easy and transparent way to direct donationsdirectly to a chosen charity/cause, without the issue of handling cash.Whilst the SU acts as a third party checker for cash fundraising, online

platforms such as JustGiving act as the third party, ensuring thefundraising is transparent and legal. The most popular online

fundraising platforms are JustGiving, Virgin Money Giving and GoFund Me. When using online fundraising platforms it is important toconsider that some may have a commission fee, but normally this is

outweighed by the benefits of Gift Aid.

Access All Areas Committee

Harriet RichardsonVice Chair

Farzan MustafaChair

Jakub ZemekTreasurer

Dhruti BalakrishnaDoddaballapur

Secretary

Zafirah HossainPrimary Schools Coordinator

Ammaarah TailorSecondary Schools

Coordinator

V&F COMMITTEES

RAG Committee

Molly DuganInternational Challenges Coordinator

Nida ZulfiqarChair

Chiamaka AoliefoSociety Fundraising Officer

Ana Cristina FreireEvents Coordinator

Jakub ZemekTargeting & Research

Coordinator

Lin Le Yi WinTraining coordinator

Ella AshtonMedical School Projects

Coordinator

Laura-Raluca PascaSocial & Wellbeing Coordinator

TBCVolunteer Coordinator

Alexandra-Maria RusRaids Officer

Chiamaka AnoliefoSponsorship & Corporate Liaison Officer

TBCSocial Media & Publicity Officer

Student Action CommitteeMaria Petraki

ChairShiying MaTreasurer

Tess HaytonSustainability Projects

Coordinator

Patricia Martes LebronIntergen Projects

Coordinator

Tessa DerkaczVice Chair

Victoria EdsonHomeless Projects

Coordinator

Rosa BeuzevalWomen's Projects

Coordinator

Leonor Almeida ResendeSecretary & Comms

Felix KwokTraining Coordinator

Olivia SchalkwykAccessibility Projects

Coordinator

Monika KyliotaityteChildren's Projects

Coordinator

Lucy OwenVice Chair

For your volunteering hours to be logged, you must be signed upto the project on Volunteer Hub. The Volunteer Hub is where all

volunteering opportunities are listed. It is also how the universitykeeps a track of how much time you have volunteered with a

project.

Your project leader is responsible for adding your hours toVolunteer Hub but you should keep track of you hours in case

there is an error. There is a ‘My Year in Volunteering’ calendar atthe back of this guide for you to record your hours.

The university volunteering team have created a video explaining

how you should add any independently sourced volunteeringhours:

VOLUNTEERING HOURS

Please note the video refers to 'additional volunteering hours' - this is the oldname for independently sourced hours

HOW DOES VOLUNTEERING COUNTTOWARDS THE UNIVERSITY AWARDS?

Stellify Award

Manchester Leadership Programme

All students wishing to achieve the Stellify Award mustundertake 25 hours of community-facing volunteering

to complete the 'Making a Difference' component.

Additionally, our project leaders and committeemembers qualify for Step Up & Lead. Your leadershiprole is tracked separately to your volunteering hours.

The Manchester Leadership Programme requiresstudents to complete 15, 25, or 40 hours of approvedvolunteering, which leads to a Bronze, Silver, or Gold

Manchester Leadership Programme.

Volunteering hours recorded onVolunteer Hub can be used to counttowards the Stellify Award and theManchester Leadership Programme.

DBS CHECKSFor some activities, you will need to get a DBS check

before you can volunteer. The Volunteer Hub will displaywhether the check is required for your role. DBS checksenable the Students’ Union to safely allow volunteers towork with children and vulnerable adults. The SU canprovide a DBS check for our projects free of charge.

Task Done?Complete survey (here) to

see if you need a DBS check

Read information about theDBS check process (here)

Get documents ready forchecking

Arrange an appointmentwith the V+F team

DBS DOCUMENTS

In order to get a DBS check, you will need to provide threeforms of ID, including a proof of address (details here). Ifyou have lived anywhere outside the UK for more than

three months at a time in the last five years, you will haveto provide some extra information (details here).

Examples of document combinations:

A bank statement (sent from their bank to their current address), apassport and a driving license.

A birth certificate, utility bill (in their name, sent to their currentaddress) and an EU National ID card.

A bank statement (printed out at the bank and stamped), a passportand a P45 statement.

A bank statement (printed out at the bank and stamped), a passport

and a BRP (biometric residence permit).

If you have any questions about the DBS documents, feelfree to email the V+F Team or attend our DBS drop-in:

Wednesdays 2pm-3pm on Zoom: bit.ly/VFweds

TRAININGWe’ll make sure that you’re prepared for your volunteering role. Forsome projects this means that you will have to attend an inductionand receive training from your leader, and in other cases further

training is needed. Your leader will make you aware of mandatorytraining. Links to common training can be found below:

Some projects offer additional training to further your development.Keep an eye out on your emails for updates regarding these.

Safeguarding Adults moduleAn overview of safeguarding policy for adults at the SU, how torecognise signs of abuse, and recording and reporting concerns.

Safeguarding Children moduleAn overview of safeguarding policy for children at the SU,

recognising signs of abuse, and how to record and report concerns.

Food Hygiene Level 2This training provides the learner with a Level 2 certificate in Food

Hygiene training (only necessary for projects handling food).

NSPCC Training This module covers safeguarding legislation in the UK and gives

more detailed knowledge on safeguarding concerns and reporting.It costs £25 which the student pays and the SU reimburses.

Unconscious Bias Training This module supports volunteers to consider their own bias, helpingus to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all. Login

using your student details and click 'enrol'.

EXPENSESIf you find yourself buying something for your

project/event with your own money, theStudents'’ Union will make sure that you are paid

back out of the relevant budget.

In order for us to pay you back, you will need tofill in a payment request form (available here)

with your bank details, a description of what youbought and how much you spent, and a copy of

your receipts . We are unable to process paymentrequests without receipts.

Once we have received your payment request

form, we will process it and you should receivethe money back in your account on the following

Wednesday. 

(The Students' Union is upgrading its internal systems and these policies aresubject to change. If this happens, we will update this guide and let you know.)

If you have any questions about the project thathaven’t been answered in this booklet, feel free to

send us an email atvolunteering.su@manchester.ac.uk

Alternatively, come to a Zoom drop-in session

Monday Volunteering Drop-in (11 AM)bit.ly/VFmon

Wednesday DBS Drop-in (2 - 3 PM)bit.ly/VFweds

QUESTIONS?

IMPORTANT POLICYSafeguarding

The SU is committed to the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults thatparticipate in any University of Manchester Students’ Union activities. If you areconcerned about somebody’s safety or welfare, please report it to your project

leader at the earliest opportunity. Further information on the SU’s safeguardingpolicy can be found here.

AccessibilityThe SU is committed to making sure projects make reasonable adjustments toensure that projects are fully accessible. If you have any access requirements,

please let us know.

Zero toleranceAs a volunteer, your wellbeing and safety is of the utmost importance, and theSU has a zero-tolerance policy regarding harassment and discrimination. We

want to ensure that every volunteer feels comfortable in their role and is awareof our process to report any issues or concerns. If whilst volunteering, you aremade to feel uncomfortable, harassed, or are the subject of discrimination, weask that you safely remove yourself from the situation, and alert your project

leader. Please let the V&F team know as soon as possible, so that we can offersupport and make sure that you aren’t put in that position again. The staff V&F

team email is volunteering.su@manchester.ac.uk.

Further information on the SU’s policies can be found here.

GET READY TOVOLUNTEER

Task Done?Sign up on Volunteer

Hub

Chat with projectleader

Complete training

DBS check (ifapplicable)

First volunteeringsession

Keep track of hours incalendar

KEY DATESThese key dates will be updated throughout the year asthey are confirmed. Remember to keep checking back

to see what's on at the SU!

September

13 September - 15 September (TBC)Student Leaders Conference22nd and 23rd September:

Welcome Fairs29th September 11am-3pmGet Into Volunteering Event

RAG Choose Your Challenge Event

October

Training for new volunteers!Project activity begins

Date tbc:Volunteering and Social Justice Fair

December

Pre-break socials31st December:

Deadline for submitting volunteering hours

KEY DATESJanuary

Nominations for MAD Awards openFebruary

Nominations for VOTY Awards open31st January - 7 February:

Refreshers' Week / Welcome Back7 February - 11 February:Student Volunteering Week

MarchSU Elections

AprilNominations for SU Awards open

MayVolunteer of the Year Awards

Make a Difference Awards31st May:

Deadline for submitting volunteering hoursJune

Students' Union Volunteering, Fundraising andCampaigning Awards