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Volunteering with X by X Bromley

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Volunteering is more than just ‘doing things for free’, it’s a key part of playing an active role in your community, which we know isn’t always an opportunity that enough Disabled people can access.

Volunteering is a great way to share the skills you already have and to develop new ones, alongside building your experience and confidence while making a difference to the lives of Deaf and Disabled people in Bromley and neighbouring London boroughs.

What is Volunteering?

Volunteering is when you take part in an activity or complete certain tasks for a charity or organisation without getting paid a wage or salary, though you will receive money back for any expenses such as travel to and from your volunteering.

Volunteering can be an activity or set of tasks that you do once, occasionally, or regularly. You’ll always be clear on what you’ve been asked to do, and any expectations we have that we’ll need you to follow.

Volunteering roles will always be activities that will make a difference to the lives of Deaf and Disabled people locally. This might be directly at events or in projects, or it might be by helping Bromley Experts by Experience to be able to achieve more through its work, such as supporting us with office tasks, fundraising, policy and strategy work, or as a Trustee.

Ready to join Bromley Experts by Experience as a volunteer? Check what roles we’re currently advertising on our volunteering opportunities page or fill in our enrolment form sharing the kinds of skills or activities you would enjoy. 

I’ve Found Volunteering Hard, Or Been Excluded Elsewhere, Is Volunteering Really for Me?

Bromley Experts by Experience make sure that our volunteering programme is as inclusive as possible right from the start, making things as accessible as possible for each person who gives their time and skills to us.

We know that some Deaf and Disabled people have previously faced barriers when trying to volunteer at other places, and that some Disabled people would benefit from extra support to volunteer. To help overcome barriers and create more opportunities, we can offer specific additional support, such as a member of staff to buddy up with you when you are volunteering, sourcing equipment, or creating a specific volunteering role for you.  

This is called Supported Volunteering; it’s for Deaf and Disabled Volunteers who often face barriers to volunteering. You’d still be part of our main team of volunteers, it just means we know you might need some extra support, so you get the most from your time with us. 

Is this the kind of support you’d like to volunteer? Let our Volunteering Coordinator Kathryn, know on volunteering@xbyxbromley.org.uk or fill in our enrolment form sharing the kinds of skills or activities you would enjoy. 

Volunteering – What’s in it for me?

As well as making a difference to us here at X by X and to local Disabled people who access our services and events, it’s important that you also gain something too from your volunteering. While volunteers aren’t paid staff members, here are some of the things you’ll gain and that we offer to support volunteers.

  • Learning new skills.
  • Developing your current skills.
  • Gaining experience to get a new job or make a change in your career.
  • Developing confidence and team working skills
  • Feeling connected to your community.
  • Having fun!
  • Meeting new people
  • Feeling like you are making a difference.

We offer all our volunteers:

  • Out of pocket expenses, for travel and sometimes food costs.
  • Clear guidance on your volunteering role and clear expectations. This is called your Volunteer Welcome.
  • Learning to help you in your role, and extra opportunities for training in other relevant areas – such as Disability Equality.
  • A named contact person to go to for support.
  • A friendly inclusive team of staff and volunteers all of whom identify as Disabled, who will welcome and support you.
  • You can volunteer in most roles in our accessible office or from home. (Some event roles are in a specific location)
  • Volunteer Thank Yous, ongoing support and recognition – including a reference if you need it.

Volunteering is something that you choose to do. Even though we’ll ask you to follow certain policies or meet some expectations, it’s important you remember that you can decide whether or not volunteering is right for you at any time, and we’ll always understand if you can’t volunteer, need a break, or need to stop for any reason!

What Volunteering Roles are available?

Whenever we have volunteering roles available at X by X Bromley, you’ll find them on our volunteering opportunities page.

If you’re not sure what role is best for you, contact our Volunteering Coordinator Kathryn on volunteering@xbyxbromley.org.uk or fill in our enrolment form sharing the kinds of skills or activities you would enjoy.

Why Can Only People with Lived Experience Volunteer at X by X?

As a Deaf and Disabled People’s Organisation (DDPO), all our staff, volunteers and trustees identify as either Deaf, Disabled or both, or as a Carer. We call this having Lived Experience of Disability. When we talk about being Disabled – this is what we mean. Find out more about who we mean by Disabled people.

The lived experience of our staff, trustees and volunteers means that we understand first-hand the barriers to independence and inclusion local Disabled people and carers face. Our lived experience helps us to engage well with local Disabled people. Our services are more effective, better designed, more accessible, approachable and culturally sensitive thanks to our lived experience! Find out more about our values.

I want to volunteer – What now?

Fantastic! We’re really pleased you’d like to get involved! You can see specific roles we are currently advertising for on our volunteering opportunities page.

If you’re not sure what role is best for you, contact our Volunteering Coordinator Kathryn on volunteering@xbyxbromley.org.uk or fill in our enrolment form below sharing the kinds of skills or activities you would enjoy. 

Volunteer Enrolment Form

Thank you so much for thinking about volunteering for Bromley Experts by Experience (X by X Bromley). If you need assistance with completing this form, please email volunteering@xbyxbromley.org.uk. 

You can either complete the online form below or download our volunteer enrolment form and return to volunteering@xbyxbromley.org.uk.

Volunteering Enrolment Form

Please tell us about yourself

All the information you provide on this form is confidential within X by X, in line with our Privacy Notice. 

(only if aged under 18 years) Your parent/carer's details

If you are aged under 18 years, we require parent/carer consent before you can volunteer. We will email your parent/carer to check consent.

If you are aged 18 years or older, you can leave this section blank.

Lived Experience of Disability

We are dedicated to remaining an organisation run by and for Deaf and Disabled people and carers. All our volunteers must have lived experience of being Deaf, Disabled and/or have lived experience as a carer to volunteer with us. Find out what we mean by that here.

We want to make volunteering as accessible as possible.

Please let us know anything we can do to make sure you get the most from volunteering. This could be specific access requirements, such as needing someone to help you with your tasks or things like what times of day that work best.

Your Volunteer Role

Please let us know about a specific role you've seen us promote. If there isn’t a specific role, but you’d still like to offer your skills, time and support to Bromley Experts by Experience, please let us know any specific hobbies or skills that you’d like to offer X by X now or in future so we can find the best role for you. Tick as many as you’d like.

What makes you want to volunteer for X by X?

Supported Volunteering

We know that some Disabled people face additional barriers or need extra support to volunteer. To help overcome barriers and create more opportunities, we can offer specific additional support, such as a member of staff to buddy up with you when you are volunteering or creating a specific volunteering role for you.  

This is called Supported Volunteering; it’s for Disabled Volunteers who often face barriers to volunteering. You’d still be part of our main team of volunteers, it just means we know you might need some extra support, so you get the most from your time with us. 

Your consent