Volunteers

Volunteers are integral to the services we provide within Lancaster, Morecambe and beyond. Volunteers enable us to work within the community and stay in tune with the needs of our local people.

Why Volunteer?

Who can Volunteer?

How much time would I need to give to be a Volunteer?

Training

Volunteer Induction

Volunteer Expenses

Why volunteer?

Most people who volunteer for EDN have been affected by Eating Disorders at some time in their lives, whether directly or indirectly. They understand how much help and support is needed to help a person into recovery and to keep them there.

Some people volunteer after they have reached retirement age; it can provide them with a new social network whilst keeping well-honed skills maintained.

However, it is not essential that you know all about Eating Disorders to become a volunteer. There are many different aspects of EDN that volunteers can participate in other than helping to support our clients.

Who can volunteer?

Anyone can become a volunteer with EDN. Where appropriate, we try and incorporate some volunteer work within a client’s recovery process when they have reached a particular level of recovery. We know this helps the client reintegrate back into the community and redevelop their social skills in a safe environment.

If you are a person who has struggled with Eating Disorders in the past and still has issues, there is a possibility we will not allow you to volunteer with other clients until these issues are either resolved or become less frequent. This is merely a precaution to safe-guard the volunteer and clients of EDN. If you still struggle with an Eating Problem but wish to volunteer we would be able to involve you with EDN in other ways that are more appropriate.

Ways in which you can volunteer…..

•    Administration
•    Group facilitator/Co-facilitator
•    Fundraising
•    Awareness-raising talks/presentations
•    Online support
•    Drop-in support work
•    Writing funding bids

How much time would I have to give to be a volunteer?

The time you donate to EDN is decided by you to make sure it fits in with your own life and other commitments.

There are occasions when we do require further commitment in terms of hours to EDN. Generally, if you take part in group facilitation, you would be required to provide 1 hr 30 mins of your own time every week as this is the approx. duration of each session. All other areas in which we need volunteers to help do not require a weekly commitment of time, although we would prefer an indication of how long and when.

Training

All volunteers new to EDN will receive formal volunteer training appropriate to the area you would like to help in. Every volunteer receives a basic understanding of Eating Disorders and the work that we carry out with our clients. Generally, for becoming a group facilitator or co-facilitator, training would last approximately 6 months and for other areas such as administration, training would last approximately 3 weeks. All training will be refreshed yearly, appropriate to the area in which you would like to help.

Volunteer Induction

All volunteers are inducted formally to EDN. We have all the correct policies and procedures in place to ensure we meet with charity legislation.

Volunteer Expenses

All volunteers will be refunded any expenses incurred whilst representing EDN in a volunteer capacity.