Volunteer PackAddress:Barnet Furniture Centre4 Queen’s Parade CloseFriern BarnetN11 3FY

Telephone: 0208 361 6802

Email: info@barnetfurniturecentre.org

Directions:If you are travelling by public transport:- 15 minute walk from New Southgate Railway Station - 10 minutes by bus from Bounds Green tube station.

Friern Barnet Town Hall is on bus routes:234, 221, 382, 134, 43.Bus stops:FW, FL, FK, FT, FC, FD, FX.

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Welcome to BFC -we’re delighted you’re volunteering with us.

Volunteers are so important to Barnet Furniture Centre’s work – without our wonderful volunteers, we wouldn’t be able to offer the support we do to the people of Barnet who live with the struggles of financial hardship.

Our volunteers are involved across all areas the charity – from spreading the word about what we do in their local community to lending some time to us the warehouse/shop; helping out in the office with clerical and admin work or even by providing the experience and skills needed to upcycle and repurpose furniture ; helping out on the van with collections and deliveries – this could be loading or unloading and sometimes even driving the van!

Whatever inspired you to join us at BFC, we want to make sure you feel valued and supported throughout your time with us. This handbook will help you to get started in your role – We hope you find it useful.

If you’d like more information, please speak to your project manager – they’re always ready to help if you have any questions.

Thank you again for joining us.

The Board of TrusteesBarnet Furniture Centre

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About Us“Barnet Furniture Centre is

here to relieve the stresses of financial hardship on families

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About Us“Barnet Furniture Centre is

here to relieve the stresses of financial hardship on families

“About BFC”

Barnet Furniture Centre “The leading furniture re-use Centre in the Borough”

The Charities main object is to relieve the stresses of financial hardships on families and individuals by helping to furnish their homes at affordable prices;

“Saving the world one sofa at a time”Since opening our doors in 2011 we have diverted over 450 tonnes from landfill and continue to do so every day. The environment is extremely important to us at BFC

which is why we promote waste reduction, reuse, reclamation and recycling.

The VolunteersBFC have an ever-growing team of volunteers who have a wide range of attributes and skills that they bring to the Centre. Our volunteers are a massive part of the BFC family

and without them; we wouldn’t be able to do the work we do.

The BFC FamilyThe one thing we are not short of at BFC is heart. We are a very energy filled, can-do,

passionate team who love what we do. We’re always willing to go that extra mile for a customer or a colleague and try our best to ensure everyone leaves the warehouse

with a smile on their face.

“Housekeeping” You will be pleased to know that we have facilities on site for yourself and the team to use. We also have an endless supply of tea and coffee on hand (don’t forget to ask the

team; we are a thirsty bunch ). In case of a fire or if evacuation is needed you will need to exit the building at the front of the warehouse and head right; the meeting

point is on the corner of Hollyfield Avenue and Queens Parade Close (See Fire Plan on next page).

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Warehouse Above:

Office Below:

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Volunteering with BFCAs a volunteer with Barnet Furniture Centre, you will have the opportunity to make a real difference to your local community. During the course of your volunteering, you will get a chance to gain work experience within a supportive, empowering and dynamic environment.

RecruitmentAll prospective volunteers must complete the BFC application form, including the section requesting references (reference checks will need to be completed before a volunteer can begin the induction training). Please allow 10 working days for a response to your application.

Types of Work We have a variety of roles on offer, such as van crew, warehouse assistant, up-cycling, customer service and office work. Usually you will be in one specific area which will be agreed before you start here, although we do sometimes require a degree of flexibility, and from time to time will need you to take on other tasks.

Matching you to your ideal roleBarnet Furniture Centre will always endeavour to match each volunteer that it recruits with his or her preferred area. You may have a very clear idea of the area that you wish to work in already and if this is the case, the application form gives you the opportunity to express this and to explain your reasons for wanting to work in that particular area.However, many applicants are less sure of which area they wish to work in. If you are unsure about the service you would like to work most closely with, don’t worry. This will not count against you in the selection procedure, and it is something that can be worked out as part of the recruitment process.

“The most important quality that Barnet Furniture Centre looks for in its volunteers is a commitment to supporting the charity in a responsible and sensitive manner, in line with its policies and procedures (in particular its Equal Opportunities, Volunteering and Health and Safety Policies).

Induction and training

All volunteers will receive an induction into the Barnet Furniture Centre and their own area of work, which will consist of approximately 1-2 x one hour sessions. Evaluation will take place after each session. Once you become a volunteer, further training will be provided as appropriate.

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SupportAll volunteers will have a Manager as their main contact to support and discuss issues with. They will be provided with regular supervision to feedback on progress, discuss future development and air any problems

Our responsibilities to youBarnet Furniture Centre’s Volunteer Policy is underpinned by the following principles:

o Barnet Furniture Centre ensures that volunteers are properly integrated into the Organisation and feel part of the team.

o Barnet Furniture Centre does not and will not introduce volunteers to replace paid staff.

o Barnet Furniture Centre expects that staff at all levels will work positively with volunteers.

Your responsibilities to Barnet Furniture Centreo To be committed to furthering Barnet Furniture Centre’s aims and objectives.o To abide by Barnet Furniture Centre’s codes of practice and policies and

procedures (including the Volunteers handbook, Equal Opportunities and Health and Safety Policies).

o To take part in regular training, induction, assessment sessions and activities.o To contribute towards a pleasant and efficient working environment by treating

all co-workers and clients with respect and courtesy.

The Volunteer’s VoiceVolunteers are actively encouraged to express their views about matters concerning the charity. They can do so at any point to the Centre’s Manager. The board of directors will also be available for volunteers to feedback via the appropriate member of Staff.

InsuranceAll volunteers and staff members are covered by Barnet Furniture Centre’s employer liability insurance whilst they are on the premises or engaged in any work on BFC’s behalf. This cover is for a maximum of £10m.

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Equal OpportunitiesBarnet Furniture Centre is an equal opportunities employer. Under no circumstances will we tolerate discrimination on the grounds of age, gender, race, religion, sexuality, disability or any other factor, be it from paid Staff, Volunteers, Service-users or any other individual who comes into contact with our organisation. If you feel that you are experiencing discrimination, or not being treated in a fair manner; please talk to the Project Manager (Brigid Casey). Any conversations will be treated in the strictest confidence. Please ensure that you read the equal opportunities policy and ask if you would like your own copy of it.

Grievance and Disciplinary ProceduresWe aim to identify and solve problems at the earliest possible stage. A procedure has been drawn up for dealing with complaints either by or about Volunteers and all other staff of Barnet Furniture Centre. A copy of the disciplinary and grievance procedures is included in the Volunteer's Handbook.

ConfidentialityAll volunteers and paid staff must handle confidential material in accordance with the confidentiality procedures in place and must sign and return the Confidentiality Statement in the Volunteer Pack before they can commence their induction.

Volunteer Agreements and OutlinesEach volunteer will sign a Volunteer Agreement establishing what Barnet Furniture Centre undertakes to provide them with. In addition they will agree to a written outline of the specific work they will be undertaking when volunteering.

“What you should know”

Absence/AvailabilityBFC request all Volunteers give 24 hours’ notice of absence or availability. BFC are very grateful to have the extra support from Volunteers and understand that it may not always be possible to give adequate notice. BFC ask that you notify a member of the Team at your earliest convenience. Please note that consistent absences may result in a Volunteer’s placement being terminated.

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ExpensesBFC have a certain obligation to reimburse voluntary workers’ expenses, such as travel expenses to get you to the place of volunteering. It is also good practice to allow volunteers working a minimum of five hours per day to claim expenses for lunch.

“Although Volunteers give their time free, you will be refunded for any out of pocket expenses you incur whilst working for Barnet Furniture Centre.”

With this in mind BFC agrees to pay the following expenses to its Volunteers:Travel expenses up to £2.00 per day (Unless otherwise agreed) Lunch expenses up to £2.00 per day (Unless otherwise agreed)

HoursThese will be arranged so that you come in on the same days and hours each week. Normally your hours will be 9.00am -5.00pm weekdays, although there are variations to this. If such times cause a problem for you, please let us know and we will see if we can work around it.

Conduct & SecurityYou will be dealing with members of the public and Co-workers at the project, and may be entering both donor's and client's homes. As a member of the team you will be fully responsible for your conduct and are expected to show every consideration for the property and rights of others. Your conduct as a Volunteer must be of an acceptable standard; this applies as much for the off-site activities of the project as it does for activities on BFC’s premises. You must as a Volunteer treat all service users, employees and visitors with respect and courtesy.

Working with paid staffYou will normally be given tasks to be completed under the direction of a paid member of staff. Occasionally you may be required to work on your own or under your own initiative. Although your tasks will be fully explained to you beforehand; if you have any queries please ask a member of the team.

“Our roles”Page 10 of 18

Volunteer Project Assistant (VPA)Our perfect VPA will need to be hard-working, organised and a bit of an all-rounder. The role is very varied; it can be customer facing one day and office based the next. We like our VPA’s to be hands on, active and full of initiative. Answering phones, booking in jobs, dealing with customers and researching and pricing stock are just some of the tasks that make up the VPA role. You will work closely with the Senior Project Assistant and Line Manager in supporting the project and its needs with the daily running of the Centre.

Volunteer Workshop Assistant (VWA) Our workshop is filled with great tools and materials which allow us to breathe a new lease of life into some of the furniture that we are donated. The role would be well suited to someone who is skilled and has experience in painting and DIY. Repairs are sometimes required; so it would be ideal if the VWA was confident in all areas. We have tasks in which you will require a steady hand, creative streak and a perfectionist’s heart; we also have tasks for the “flat-pack heroes”. The ideal combination for this post is a little bit of skill, a hint of creativity with a speedy and meticulous finish.

Volunteer Drivers Assistant/ Volunteer Driver (VDA/VD)This is the ideal role for a fit, healthy and active person who thrives on great customer service. This role mainly supports our driver and his assistant with undertaking collection and deliveries at customer’s houses; however, there may be some light admin involved. You will be working closely with the van and warehouse team and to ensure that the work is completed in a safe manner, communication is key! As a charity we often deal with vulnerable people and as a member of the team; you will be expected to handle these customers sympathetically and respectfully and be courteous and respectful when entering their homes.

Volunteer Warehouse Coordinator (VWC)This role is for a fit & active person who thrives on giving great customer service and has no problem working with their own initiative. You will be mainly in the warehouse which involves meeting, greeting and serving customers; organising and displaying pieces in a visually stimulating way and some furniture assembly. We love our warehouse to have good vibes and a homely feel when customers come to shop at BFC so it is vital that we have a VWC that has a keen eye for home making. This role would be ideal for a budding interior designer.

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Volunteer Salesperson/Sales Assistant (VS)This Volunteer position needs to have a keen eye for furniture and the gift of the gab. We need our VS to be confident with communications and able to work off their own initiative. This is mainly a customer facing role and is a great way for someone to gain experience in sales and customer service. The VS will need to be very friendly, a people person and attentive with our customers. Light admin, cash handling and customer care are big parts of this role.

Volunteers Admin Assistant (VAA)The VAA is one of the biggest Volunteer supports to both the office and van staff. It is an office based position; answering phones, emails and taking bookings are some of the daily tasks that are undertaken. The role allows the VAA to gain experience in time management, routing, customer service and problem solving. The VAA will work closely with all members of staff, particularly the Line manager and SPA. The VAA is a great chance for our Volunteers to get prepared to work in an office environment; the role requires a Volunteer who can offer more than 5 hours in one day.

Volunteer Upholsterer (VU)Re-upholstery is another way for BFC to revive some of the items that get donated to the Centre. Working alongside the VWA, the VU will decide which pieces are in need of stripping and recovering. Ideally the VU will be experienced to an intermediate level. This is also a great chance for someone who is learning the art of upholstery to sharpen their skills.

Volunteer Social Media Manager (VSMM)Social Media is a huge part of the projects business development and is also a platform for BFC to promote and inform the community about all aspects of what we do. We have a presence on FB, Instagram and Twitter and require a volunteer to regularly update all levels of social media with promotions, photographs, success stories and information about what BFC are up to. You will work closely with the SPA, VWD and VMA to market and develop the project to its full potential.

Volunteer Website Developer (VDA)BFC have recently started to run a WordPress website; it is one of the biggest sources of info, allowing customers to get to know BFC at the click of a button. The VWD will work with the Senior Project Assistant (SPA) to develop the new website, building on the current pages and updating certain sections regularly i.e. volunteer section, what’s in the news and the stats provided. It’s the VWD’s responsibility to ensure BFC has a webpage that represents the objectives, aims and running of the charity.

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Volunteer Marketing Assistant (VMA)Marketing is something that costs money and money is something that is restricted when working in a charity. When sourcing the best platforms for marketing you must be creative, assertive and inventive; finding new ways to reach a greater audience and building on existing marketing strategies. Your main aim is to further the project by sourcing low cost marketing solutions. Our VMA will ideally have contacts to utilise. A ‘friends list’ is currently being created, which the VMA will keep updated. The idea is that BFC will call upon their ‘friends’ in times of need; whether it is for an extra set of hands to distribute flyers or a fence that we can hang a banner from.

BFC appreciate that not everybody can offer a full day or the same day each week. BFC now operate a flexible volunteering strategy; offering our volunteers the opportunity to lend us whatever spare time they can. (Some roles even support volunteering from home). To find out more about flexible volunteering please contact Jade.

“Code of Conduct”

Be honest about your suitability for specific roles and activities.

Act in accordance with best practice and equal opportunities.

Be responsible and keep BFC’s activities in-line with relevant policies and legislations.

Be reliable: Turn up when you say you will, if you can’t be here; just let us know beforehand.

Work as part of a team, respect confidences, set a good example and always support other staff members and volunteers.

Recognise that you are a Barnet Furniture Centre representative whilst you are volunteering.

Develop your own skills; this could be attending any training or meetings required by your Line Manager.

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Personal Protective Equipment

Health and Safety is paramount to the daily running of BFC. Whilst you are a volunteer with us; you will be issued with the appropriate uniform and safety equipment to ensure you work in a safe and efficient manner.

You have a copy of BFC’s H&S, Volunteer and Uniform Policy in your volunteer pack.

Volunteer’s Name: _______________________________________

PPE Supplied Quantity Date Volunteer’s Signature

Manager’s Signature

Safety Gloves (pair)

Safety Footwear

Safety High Vis Jackets

Uniform Supplied Quantity Date Volunteer’s Signature

Manager’s Signature

Cargo pants

Polo Shirts

T-Shirts

Sweatshirts

Padded Jacket

Volunteer Application Form

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If you need help filling out this this application or require it in a different format (i.e. larger font, braille etc.) please ask Jade or contact jade@barnetfurniturecentre.org

Personal Information

Name: _____________________________________ Application Date: ________________

Address: ___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Email: _______________________________ Mobile: _________________________

About Applicant

1. We have a variety of placements available here, which of the following areas of work are you interested in? Please circle each role that interests you. (Role descriptions are available in the volunteer pack.)

Van Driver/ Drivers Assistant Upholsterer Warehouse Coordinator Media Manager Salesperson & Sales Assistant Marketing Assistant

Office Administrator Project Assistant Workshop Assistant Website Developer

2. Why do you want to volunteer at Barnet Furniture Centre?

_____________________________________________________________________

3. What do you want to gain from your volunteer experience at Barnet Furniture Centre?

_____________________________________________________________________

3a. Do you have any previous experience in the roles listed above? If yes please give a brief d description of what your previous role included.

_____________________________________________________________________

3b. Have you ever been a volunteer before? If yes, for what organisation and what was the r role?

_____________________________________________________________________

3c. Do you have any certificates or qualifications from past training/education? If yes please l list below.

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_____________________________________________________________________

4. Do you consider yourself to have a disability or impairment? Yes / No

4b. If yes, what additional support can we offer to assist your needs?

_____________________________________________________________________

5. Have you ever been convicted of a crime? Yes / NoIf yes, please explain the nature of the crime and the date of the conviction and disposition.Conviction of a crime is not an automatic disqualification for volunteer work.

_____________________________________________________________________

6. Which days are you able to volunteer at BFC? Please tick below

Monday Tuesday

Wednesday Thursday Friday

Saturday Flexible

7. Please provide us with the details of two referees? (Must include one non-relative)

Please read the following agreement carefully before signing this application:

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Name: Name:

Address: Address:

Email: Email:

Phone: Phone:

Relationship: Relationship:

I understand that this is an application form and not a commitment or promise of a volunteer opportunity. I certify that the information I have provided throughout the selection process, including on this application form and in interviews with Barnet Furniture Centre is true, correct and complete to the best of my knowledge.I certify that I have and will answer all questions to the best of my ability and that I have not and will not withhold any information that would unfavourably affect my application for a volunteer position.I understand that information given on my application form will be verified by Barnet Furniture Centre. I understand that any misrepresentations or omissions may be reason for my immediate rejection as an applicant or my termination as a volunteer entirely.

Signature __________________________________________ Date ____________

Volunteer Name:

Volunteer Exit Form

1. What is the primary reason for ending your time volunteering with BFC?

2. What did you enjoy most and least about volunteering with us?

3. Do you feel like you received enough support and supervision during your time volunteering with us?

4. What suggestions would you make to improve our volunteer programme?

5. Is there anything else you would like to tell us about your experience volunteering at BFC?

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_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

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