Volunteering – Frequently asked questions
What is an intellectual disability?
What training will I be given?
How much time do I have to give?
How do I choose what to do?
What if I start and I don’t like what I am doing?
I don’t know anything about intellectual disability. How do I find out more?
When we go out together who pays?
What happens if I need to use my car?
Are there any safety issues that I need to be aware of?
How do I become a volunteer in the one-to-one programme?
What is an intellectual disability?
An intellectual disability affects the way a person learns, communicates, or does everyday things. There are many different types of intellectual disability, they can be mild, moderate or severe. A person has an intellectual disability for life.
What training will I be given?
You will receive two hours orientation before you start and any specialist training that you may need to know about the person you will be sharing your time with. IHC, via your volunteer coordinator can also provide you with more training and resources should you need it on an ongoing basis.
Orientation covers:
- how to be a great volunteer
- what is an intellectual disability?
- health and safety issues
- support we will provide you
- the training IHC provides
How much time do I have to give?
We would like you to keep doing what you already do so that you don’t take time out of your busy life. An hour or two per week is going to ensure that you get to know each other well. It’s more about including someone in your current activities, than finding more time.
How do I choose what to do?
You and the person with the intellectual disability choose how you spend your time together, it is important you equally get to make decisions. Walk on the beach, go to the gym or movies or catch up over a coffee. Your volunteer coordinator will work with you to identify what you and the person with the intellectual disability are interested in doing together.
What if I start and I don’t like what I am doing?
Your volunteer coordinator will contact you regularly to see how you are going. You can always contact them to discuss your friendship and what can be done to support you and your friend and to make changes if necessary.
I don’t know anything about intellectual disability. How do I find out more?
You don’t need to know about intellectual disability in general. It is more important to get to know the person. If there is anything you need to know about the person that will help you to get to know them better we will help you. IHC is a world leader in intellectual disability and has a great library which is open to the public and free to join. Click here to find out more.
When we go out together who pays?
The person with the disability pays for themselves. IHC is able to reimburse you for reasonable expenses incurred during the time you share with your friend, for example coffee for the two of you, petrol expenditure used when visiting your friend. We are grateful to our donors for enabling us to do this.
What happens if I need to use my car?
You will be reimbursed for reasonable mileage as long as it has been agreed with your volunteer coordinator in advance. We will need to see your driver’s license and also ensure your car is roadworthy.
Are there any safety issues that I need to be aware of?
Health and safety is a large part of our obligation to volunteers and the people we support and we make sure you get all the information you need during orientation to assist with this.
How do I become a volunteer in the one-to-one programme?
