Fertility Network UK Volunteer Information Guide and Volunteer Roles
Welcome This guide has been produced to help ensure that your experience of volunteering for Fertility Network with Fertility Network UK will be an enjoyable and rewarding one. Many of our activities depend on our volunteers and we would not be able to function in the same way without the commitment of these special people dedicating their time, energy, understanding and knowledge. Fertility Network UK acknowledges that volunteers play an integral part in ensuring service users feel more empowered, less isolated and supported through their journey. Everyone involved with the charity is supported in a way that helps us to continue achieving those standards. Whatever your reason for volunteering, your efforts will have a direct impact on someone affected by fertility problems or to help prevent someone being affected in the future by fertility problems and for that we cannot thank you enough. Through volunteering with the charity, we hope we can challenge and meet your expectations of volunteering. Our aim is ...to offer support and information throughout the UK to everyone with fertility related issues who needs us.
Our Mission Fertility Network UK aims to continue being the leading charity across the UK in the provision of a comprehensive support network for those facing fertility challenges at all stages of their journey, providing authoritative information as well as practical and emotional support. Our Vision Around 1 in 6 couples today have trouble conceiving, which equates to 3.5 million people in the UK. The prospect of facing any kind of fertility problem is very distressing to live with and many people believe that no one else really understands. We aim to ensure everyone can access the support they need, to be able to make some sense of how they feel, and hopefully ease that loneliness and isolation on both an emotional and practical level through a variety of ways.
Volunteering What is volunteering? Volunteering is the commitment of time and energy, for the benefit of society, communities, individuals outside the immediate family, or other causes. Voluntary activities are undertaken of a person’s own free will, without payment, except for the reimbursement of pre agreed out-of-pocket expenses. Becoming a volunteer can help with gaining new skills and knowledge that can be transferrable into your personal and professional life. The benefits of volunteering ➢ Gaining new skills and knowledge ➢ Become part of a team ➢ Making new and lasting relationships ➢ Sharing experiences with others
What you can expect from us Fertility Network UK is committed to ensuring volunteers: ✓ Feel valued and respected ✓ Receive adequate support from our Volunteer Coordinator and Regional Staff ✓ Receive any out-of-pocket expenses agreed in advance, paid in accordance with charity policy ✓ May have the opportunity to change role
Mutual Expectations As a charity we are committed to making sure that all volunteers are confident and happy in their role by: ✓ Valuing and respecting our volunteers ✓ Providing relevant support including regular contact with your volunteer coordinator ✓ Providing safe systems for working ✓ Providing a defined description and explanation of volunteer roles and agreed time commitment
Commitment from Volunteers would include: ✓ Agreeing to be confidential and respect the trust put in you as a volunteer as well as any information you are given by any service user you may work with ✓ To be reliable and commit to any agreed responsibilities within your role ✓ To respect and abide by charity policies ✓ To participate in relevant training ✓ To follow the charity Health and Safety procedures ✓ *To declare any conflict of interest, which may result in you stopping volunteering Please be comfortable with our policies and ensure you are committed to upholding them before you start your volunteer role * Conflict of interest can be a multiple of things such as; setting up or running your own business where clients would be those going through a fertility journey
Volunteering Roles Becoming a volunteer with us can help service users in multiple ways including helping them to feel less isolated and lonely through a variety of services we provide. Our volunteering roles are those of: ✓ Fertility Group Volunteer / Peer Support Volunteer ✓ Media Volunteer ✓ Student Ambassador - Wales and Scotland only Community Ambassador The next few pages have an overview of the roles available (this may be dependent on need and location) and see which role is more suited to you, your skill set and your knowledge. Fertility In The Workplace Volunteer (FITW)
Fertility Group Volunteer / Peer Support Volunteer After completing the Fertility Network Volunteer training, as a Fertility Group Volunteer / Peer Support Volunteer you would: ✓ Be the contact or one of the contacts for the Regional fertility group in your area or one of our specialist fertility groups. ✓ Accept member requests after they have answered the relevant joining questions ✓ Welcome new members to the group ✓ Inspire engagement with all members ✓ Share relevant Fertility Network UK posts ✓ Post regularly within your group to grow engagement ✓ Manage your groups Fertility Network UK email account ✓ Facilitate a monthly or bi-monthly zoom call ✓ Remove any posts made by a member that are inappropriate or promotional ✓ Promote Fertility Network UK fundraising
Media Volunteer After completing the Fertility Network Media training, you would: ✓ Be available to share your story with the media when needed ✓ Have informed Fertility Network UK of the areas of your journey that you are happy to discuss ✓ Decide which medium you are happy to be involved with e.g. Radio, TV, Online, Editorial, Social Media or whatever alternative is proposed (mediums evolve) ✓ Control your story & who uses it ✓ Promote Fertility Network UK (where applicable)
Student Ambassador Volunteer After completing the Fertility Network Student Ambassador training, you would: ✓ Have an opportunity to represent and promote Fertility Network within your educational establishment ✓ Disperse online promotions with relevant groups, clubs and organisations in your educational facility ✓ Place posters within the grounds of your institution ✓ Share Fertility Network relevant posts with social media ✓ Assist and promote Freshers events and competitions for Fertility Network ✓ Contact and support from your local Fertility Network Coordinator via bi-monthly catch ups ✓ Promote Fertility Network Fundraising events, online and in person ✓ Inform your Fertility Network Coordinator of any events approaching that would support the aims of Fertility Network Benefits to you Learn about the work of Fertility Network and the devastating impact it has on people Add your volunteering experience to your CV Your coordinator will also be able to provide you with a reference from a health-related charity to support you on your career path
Community Ambassador Core Purpose: To be the face of Fertility Network UK and increase community engagement and awareness across the UK. To support our service users. Key Responsibilities: Identify avenues within the community with potential to raise awareness of the work of the charity and feedback to the relevant UK team (England/Scotland/Wales/NI) Represent the charity in the media. Represent FNUK at outside meetings/exhibitions/conferences across the UK. Take part in information sessions/webinars and/or share your experiences at fertility support groups. Endeavour to recruit volunteers/ambassadors to assist with general support, fertility groups, conferences, fundraising and the promotion of the charity, liaising with other FNUK staff as required. Assist with developing contacts with clinics/professionals working in the field of infertility by way of visits/ talks. Attend training and networking conferences as applicable.
Fertility In The Workplace Volunteer (FITW) After completing the Fertility In The Workplace Training, you would: Attend Fertility In The Workplace events, either virtually or in person Have experience in public speaking Be confident in delivering PowerPoint presentations to workplaces, or support groups Be comfortable sharing your lived experience/journey Have/had experience working in a professional background Share relevant Fertility In The Workplace posts on Social Media Have regular catch ups with the Fertility In The Workplace team to provide feedback Assist with our research by completing any questionnaires we may share with you
VOLUNTEER For more information on any of these roles please contact: Hannah Tramaseur Volunteer Coordinator Email: [email protected]