www.ramblers.org.uk

FAQs

How much time will I have to commit?

There is no set time commitment. Most volunteering opportunities are flexible and you can fit them around your own schedule, whether you’re working or not. Some roles do entail attending committee meetings at set times – your Area Secretary will be able to advise which, and how often – it may be four meetings per year, for example.

What training and information will I be given?

It varies according to the role. Sometimes a current volunteer will train up new volunteers, for other roles there is a comprehensive guidance pack and staff often run training sessions for specific volunteers. External organisations occasionally offer specialised training to Groups if requested, such as working with people with particular disabilities. Circulars and information updates are sent out to volunteers on a regular basis. Staff at all our offices (London, Scotland and Wales) are in regular contact with volunteers to provide advice and information on a wide range of issues. And there is a wealth of information to refer to on our website.

What support will I be given?

Again, it depends on the activity. Some will be set up as team activities, so support will come from peers. For others support may come from a specific person in your Group or Area – the Group Secretary or the Area Footpath Officer. The various staff teams are there to call on for advice or resources. Depending on the nature of the work, it may be the Promoting Walking Team, the Footpaths Campaigns Team or the Volunteer Support Team.

Do I have to be a member?

No. The RA is a membership organisation and, as such, most of our active volunteers are members because they believe in supporting our work through their membership subscription. However, we welcome the support of non-members as volunteers. Whilst there will be some activities where being a member is necessary, particularly if insurance is an issue or it involves financial responsibility – non-members could get involved in lots of other activities such as setting up a website, designing a leaflet or lobbying local councillors.

How do I apply?

Contact your local Area or Group Secretary, who will be able to tell you which volunteering opportunities are available near you. They can give you a brief explanation of what is involved in that particular role or for a fuller explanation, perhaps put you in touch with another volunteer who is already doing that role. How you can help lists most standard opportunities, which will give you a flavour of the different types of activities taking place.
New projects are volunteering opportunities that have been set up outside of the Area and Group structure – for some of these you may be required to complete an application form and attend an interview – each opportunity will specify what the application process involves.

Will I receive out of pocket expenses?

Yes. The Area or Group Treasurer can advise how you claim back any expenses incurred through volunteering. Expenses are usually reimbursed for travel and mileage but could also include things like postage and phone calls – giving your time shouldn’t cost you any money.

Can I have a trial period to see whether it suits me?

Yes. There is no set trial period as such for any of our current volunteer activities, but you could always request one if it would make you feel more comfortable. We appreciate that you won’t really know what you’re getting into until you give it a try and then you might find out that it’s not really what you thought it was, or not really for you. Volunteering should be a positive experience and it’s important to find what’s right for you. There are so many ways to get involved in the RA, we are happy for you to shop around the different opportunities.

Do I have to join a committee?

No. Whilst committees are an essential part of the RA Area and Group structure as they manage and organise the activities of their particular Area or Group – not all volunteering roles require involvement in a committee. You could volunteer as a walks leader, or join a practical working party, distribute leaflets, organise an RA stand at an event or help to set up and run a website – none of these activities would require joining a committee.

Do I have to go to lots of meetings?

No. If attending meetings isn’t how you would like to offer your free time, there are plenty of other voluntary activities that don’t involve going to meetings. Your Area or Group Secretary will be able to tell you which activities are going on in your locality and you can decide which ones you like the sound of. It’s your free time, you choose how you spend it. And of course, there are other ways of having your say and communicating with other volunteers, without necessarily attending meetings.

Can I “job-share” as a volunteer?

Yes. You may be interested in helping out with a particular element of a role, rather than taking the role on in its entirety. You may want to offer some administration and IT support and a Footpath Officer might hate computers with a passion – perhaps the two of you could share the role? We believe that volunteering should be about utilising people’s skills and playing to their strengths. Dividing roles up between different volunteers is often a good way to do this. Again, speak to your Group or Area Secretary about this – they will be happy to engage the support of as many volunteers as possible and sharing tasks could really help others already volunteering.

Is this voluntary work office-based?

Generally no. Most RA volunteers work from home or out and about: leading walks, practical footpath work or running stands at events, for instance. The vast majority of our voluntary activities take place at a local level, where the Area or Group is based or where the volunteers themselves live.

Do I need to have email at home?

For some of the key committee roles (Secretary, Chair, Treasurer etc..) the Area or Group may insist that people use email as their primary means of contact. The reason for this is to make it easier for groups of volunteers to contact one another and to cut down on the amount of paper sent round. Your Area or Group Secretary will be able to advise whether you need to have access to email for a particular role or not.

If I use my car for volunteering, will it affect my insurance?

No. We advise anyone using their car to undertake voluntary work to inform their car insurance company of this in writing. It shouldn’t make any difference to your insurance in terms of cost, but it covers you in the event of a claim should you have an accident whilst using your car to volunteer.

What if I want to stop volunteering?

You don’t have to commit to volunteering for a specific period of time, you can stop volunteering whenever you want. It may help your Area or Group if you can give as much notice as possible of your intention to stop volunteering, so that they can publicise the opportunity before it becomes vacant again, but this isn’t essential.