Volunteering
Who can Volunteer?
Almost anyone from the Torbay area, who is interested in supporting children’s play can volunteer. So if you enjoy being outdoors, and working with or for children we would love to hear from you.
Whether you are a more mature person who has reached retirement and wants to put something back into the community or a young person hoping to gain some work experience in order to help get into work for the first time or anything in between. Play Torbay want to involve people that reflect the diversity of those who live in the bay area. If you feel you have something to contribute, please contact us.
We also encourage young people under sixteen to become young volunteers. Play Torbay is a community of caring people that can offer support and encouragement which may help you achieve your goals.
Play Torbay has also set up a Community Training and Skills Bank to sustain delivery. This is a scheme where training and qualification opportunities are offered in return for supporting Play Torbay’s work whether it is at playwork sessions at the local playgrounds or admin support in the office or transporting parcels at Christmas time. This means playworkers and volunteers contribute their time, knowledge and expertise in-return for free training and qualifications (at a rate of £10 per hour)
Why Volunteer?
Volunteering is a great way to learn meet people, learn new skills and gain work experience. There are lots of benefits including:
Free training, often accredited
Personal mentoring, support and advice directly from the Volunteer Coordinator
Free activities holiday programme
Helping others and improving the community
Putting a hobby to good use and capitalising on using natural talents
Building self-confidence and feeling useful
Play lots!
Where can you Volunteer?
We have many opportunities across our service provision for volunteering including:
In one of three our Adventure playgrounds
In one of our specialist service provisions
At specific events
Driving coach/minibus
Providing venues for activities
Providing workshops/skills
Administrative work or fundraising
Practical site maintenance/ construction
As a local play champion advocating and promoting play and the work of Play Torbay
When I register interest what happens next?
You will have an initial informal visit opportunity to the settings/services you are interested in. This will be followed by a more formal induction process where you will be provided with all the information you will need in order to decide if volunteering with Play Torbay is right for you. If you decide to become a volunteer, then you will be provided with a range of training and support that will help you get the most out of your time with Play Torbay.
What legal aspects do I need to know about?
There are a few legal aspects that you need to be aware of at this stage of your induction.
If you are working face to face with children then you are exempt from the rehabilitation of offenders act. This means that you will have to agree to undergo a police check in order to establish your suitability for working with children. If you do have a criminal record it does not necessarily mean you will be considered unsuitable. It really depends on the nature of the offence. You will also be required to provide a couple of references as to your suitability to work with children. If you would like to volunteer please phone the number listed below.