Helpful Tips

1. Don’t pass any personal information to people you haven’t met offline before
2. When meeting one of your contacts offline for the first time, always be sure to arrange to meet in a public place.
3. Make sure that you are not left alone with someone that you have never met before.
4. Know where you’re going. If you’re headed off the beaten track or into an unfamiliar part of town, be sure you have directions and a GPS or map book.
5. If you feel unsafe, consult the person in charge and let him or her know.
6. Avoid wearing expensive jewellery: it could get damaged, lost or stolen.
7. Ask, ask, ask! If you’re worried about something or concerned about your safety in a certain situation, ask the person in charge.

1. Once you respond to a need, we will send your contact details to the relevant cause. They should get in contact with you soon.
2. If you don’t hear from the cause, contact them by visiting the ‘About the cause’ page.
3. Be sure you have the telephone number of your contact handy when you head out to volunteer.
4. Make sure you’ve organised a good meeting spot and have accurate directions.

1. Don't overcommit. You can create more problems than you solve if you keep missing the volunteering time you’ve committed to.

1. You probably have some fantastic skills that our causes can really make use of.
2. Use the skills of your profession to help causes in need. A designer can help to design posters or signage for a cause; a teacher can help to tutor children, and a plumber can help fix taps.
3. Use your hobbies to help out. Perhaps you’re an avid gardener who can help to set up a vegetable patch for a cause, or perhaps you’re a fantastic cook who can provide a meal once per month to a charity. We’re always looking.
4. Use volunteering as an opportunity to enhance your skills. Interested in writing? Perhaps you can help an animal shelter with their weekly newsletter.
5. All skills are useful. Perhaps you’re great at organising and can help a charity with a spring clean. Or perhaps you’re a great storyteller and can read stories once per month at an orphanage.
6. Avoid volunteering activities that don’t suit your strengths. If you’re not good with children, don’t volunteer to help out at a school.

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