The Booth Centre - Application Form for Volunteers

The Booth Centre is an advice and activities based day centre for homeless people. We opened in 1995 in a small annex of Manchester Cathedral.

In April 2014 we moved into a new Centre on Pimblett Street - Just 5 minutes walk from Victoria Station. It is a much larger building that will enable us to expand the services we provide to homeless people but we also need more volunteers to help us to run it.

We are currently recruiting volunteers for specific roles
Kitchen volunteers - who help to cook breakfast and lunch in our catering standard kitchen. You will be working in a team with another volunteer, supported by one of our Project Workers and assisted by two trainees, who are hoping to find work in the catering industry. Shift times are 8.30 am (so we are ready to serve porridge and beans on toast at 9am) to 1.30pm and you need to be able to work 2 days. Some experience of cooking for large numbers of people or working in catering would be an advantage and a willingness to help with the cleaning as well as the cooking is essential.
Advice volunteers - who help people to sort out people's problems with benefits and housing. You will working in the advice office and accompanying people to appointments. You will be working in a team with other volunteers, supported by one of our Project Workers and full training will be provided. Shift times are 8.30 am to 1pm or 3.30pm and you need to be able to work 2 days a week. Experience of advice work or advocacy may be an advantage but isn't essential.


Receptionist - who welcomes homeless people and visitors to the Centre, gives out post, logs donations, answers the phone and gives general signposting information. You will be working in a team with a trainee from the Centre who is getting Customer Service experience to add to their C.V. and will be supported by one of our Project Workers. Shift times are 8.30 am to 1pm or 3.30pm and you need to be able to work at least 2 days per week. This is a key role as the receptionist is the first person to greet people coming to the centre, so we are looking for people with a friendly and a positive outlook and basic computer skills.
General Volunteers - who help serve food, clear tables, sit and talk to people and support the activities. There may be some shopping or sorting of donations to help with. You will be working in a team of volunteers supported by one of our Project Workers. Shift times are 8.30 to 1pm and you need to be able to work at least 2 days per week. The most important requirement is that you are a good listener, happy to work in a team and have a non-judgemental attitude.
Computer Assistants - who will help people to use our suite of computers, particularly to search for jobs and update C.V.s. You will be working in a team of volunteers supported by one of our Project Workers. Shift times are 8.30 am to 1pm and you need to be able to work 2 days a week. You need to be confident in using computers and be good at explaining things to people who have never used computers before.


How to apply to volunteer at the Booth Centre
1. Complete this application form
2. Email it back to or put it in the post
3. James will invite you to come into the Centre to have a look around and a chat
4. We'll follow up your references and complete your DBS check
5. You'll be invited to attend the next induction training session which will be on a Tuesday afternoon.
6. You will be able to start volunteering as soon as you have completed the induction.

Experience, references and DBS check
You don't need experience of working with homeless people in order to volunteer with us. What you do need is the right attitude - we are looking for people who are good listeners, who have a positive outlook, are non-judgemental and are happy to muck in and work as part of a team. We ask people to give us details of 2 people who we can approach for references. We will also need to apply for a DBS check (which has replaced the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks) because we work with vulnerable adults. Having a criminal recordwill not necessarily bar you from becoming a volunteer, so please don't let this put you off.
What you can expect from us
- To work in a friendly, supportive environment
- We provide a full induction and ongoing training for all our volunteers.
- We reimburse out of pocket expenses - bus fares/parking fees
- We provide lunch for all our volunteers
- You will be allocated to a particular team, where you will get support from one of our Project Workers
- We are very happy to write references for volunteers who are applying for work or education courses


The Booth Centre - Application Form for Volunteers

Please fill and return to: James Marsh, Booth Centre, Edward Holt House, Pimblett Street, Manchester, M3 1FU. Email:

Name
Address
Post Code
E-mail
Home Phone Number
Mobile Phone Number
Why do you wish to become a Booth Centre Volunteer and what do you feel you have to offer.


Criminal Record Check

– As our service is used by vulnerable adults, all our volunteers have to have an Enhanced DBS check (this is a check made by the Disclosure and Barring Service which has replaced the old CRB check system). Having a criminal record will not necessarily bar you from working with us. This will depend on the circumstances and background of your offences.

Are you willing to have a DBS Check?

Please give details of any criminal convictions on a separate sheet.

We try to ensure that our volunteers reflect the age and ethnic background of the people we work with.

The Booth Centre recognises the contribution that homeless and ex-homeless people can make to the Centre and we run a Supported Volunteering Programme to enable them to volunteer and gain experience, qualifications and to give something back. If you are homeless or have been homeless recently or have current drug, alcohol or mental health problems and would like to join our Supported Volunteering Programme please tick here

Please could you answer the following?

What age group are you in?

18-25 25-40 40-60 60+

How would you describe yourself?

White Black-African Black-Caribbean Indian

Pakistani Bangladeshi Chinese Eastern European Other

Have you ever been homeless or had drug, alcohol or mental health problem?

Please give details and tell us how you are now.

Are you disabled or do you have any support needs? – please give details

Are you able to speak any other languages? We are particularly looking for volunteers who are able to speak Russian, Polish, Czech, Lithuanian or Hungarian.


References

Please give us the names of two people who have agreed to provide a reference for you. This can be anyone who has known you for some time but not a relative.

Reference One – Name
Position/Your relationship to this person
Address
Email address
Telephone Number
Reference Two – Name
Position/Your relationship to this person
Address
Email address
Telephone Number


What role/s are you interested in?

Tick are you are interested in
Kitchen Volunteer
Advice Volunteer
Receptionist
General volunteer
Computer Assistant
Any

What time availability do you have?

Tick / Tick
Mondays 8.30 – 1 pm / 1 – 3.30
Tuesdays 8.30 – 1pm / 1 – 3.30
Wednesdays 8.30 – 1pm / 1 – 3.30
Thursdays 8.30 – 1pm / 1 – 3.30
Fridays 8.30 – 1pm / 1 – 3.30

Would you be able to commit to 2 regular mornings a week (minimum)?

Are you willing to attend induction/training sessions – these are currently held on Tuesday afternoons from 1 – 3pm?

Do you expect to be available to volunteer for at least 6 months (we understand that for people who are looking for work this takes priority)?

Please sign and date this form and return it to the Booth Centre and we will be in contact with you shortly. We usually invite people to come and have a look around the Centre and can discuss what role you are interested in, your time availability and when our next induction training session will be.

Signed Date