Vincentian Lay Missionaries(VLM)
2018-19 Volunteer Application Form
Please complete your application form in MS Word and
return itby email onlyto
PRIVACY STATEMENT – please read before completing your application
ii) Appendix I requires you to give information on your health and well-being. This information is only used by VLM and retained in the VLM office in Dublin and not shared with any third party including our overseas partners.
iii) Your information will be retained by VLM for a period of three years, should you require a volunteer reference. At the end of this period your application form will be deleted/destroyed.
iv) As a VLM volunteer, you will sign a contract of agreement with VLM. The details of this contract, the nature of the work you will be doing and the details of your travel itinerary are not discussed with any other individual. ERGO It is your responsibility to ensure that your family are aware of and comfortable with your participation in this programme. VLM are not in a position to discuss placement, location or travel details with parents, partners, colleagues or any other relatives.
v) VLM endeavours to meet the general data protection guidelines as of May 2018 and abide by all national and international legislation in this regard.I have read and accept the conditions of the above privacy statement /
Yes
/No
1. Personal DetailsName (including title Mr/Ms/Dr)
Email Address
Mobile Phone Number
Date of Birth
Age on Next Birthday
(All applicants must be over 21)
Home Address
Other Address
2. Identification
Full Name as on Passport
I have attached a copy of my passport with this application form. / Yes / No
I have attached a copy of another form of valid photographic ID with this application form (e.g. driving licence, student card, PPS card, membership card, etc). / Yes / No
3. Next of Kin Details
Next of Kin
(Who will be at home or available to contact while you are overseas)
Relationship to Volunteer
Phone Number
Alternative Phone Number
Do you agree to fully discuss your placement and travel arrangements with your family members ahead of your departure?
/ Yes / No4.Volunteering Placement Information
Your Current Occupation
Current Place of Work/Study
Length of time you wish to
volunteer overseas
Your desired departure dates
Will you attend our mandatory pre-departure training sessions in Dublin
(Venue in Dublin, time & dates TBC)
Will you attend our Coming Home Day/Debriefing
(Venue in Dublin & date TBC)
Where did you hear about VLM?
4.2. Availability
There is a consultation with all applicants before progressing with their placement. This is a chance for you to ask more questions about the programme and give us a sense of your expectations and hopes for your placement. It also gives us a chance to find out more information about you to take to our overseas partners so that we can find the best match for your skills. It is only after this consultation that we can confirm the location of your placement.
Consultations usually take place in VLM’s office in Phibsborough, Dublin 7, (Monday to Friday only)and will be no longer than 40 minutes duration. Please indicate the dates and times suitable for you over the next month:
1. Day and Date: / Time:
2. Day and Date: / Time:
3. Day and Date: / Time:
Comments
Professional & Personal Skills
Your current occupation and place(s) of work/work placement.
Name of employer / organisation / Dates Employed / Job Title & Key Responsibility
4.3 Type of Placement
Select below the type of placement you are most interested in.
More than one can be selected, please tick the boxes to the right.
VLM’s Summer Programme:
(annual 4 week summer school for 7-15 year olds - July to August only) / Capacity Building:
Skills transfer, project assistance, professional development, partner mentoring.
Teacher Training / Funding Proposal & Report Writing
Adult/Skills Education / Administration/ICT
Sign Language/Deaf Services / Budgeting & Accounting
Teaching English as a Foreign Language / Project Monitoring & Evaluation
Music, Art or Drama / Archiving & Information Management
Coaching & Sports / Medical & Therapeutic
Community Development / Building/Maintenance
Other / Agriculture/Horticulture
If other, please give further details:
VLM is a Comhlámh Code of Good Practice signatory. Have you visited to learn more about what this means for you as a volunteer? / Yes / No
It is important to ensure that you are choosing the best match for your skills and expectations.Have you looked at volunteering opportunities with other organisations while deciding to volunteer abroad?
/ Yes / No
Other recent and relevant positions held by you.
Name of employer / organisation / Dates Employed / Job Title & Key Responsibility
5.1 Education
Secondary School(s) / Years Attended
Name of University/College(s) & years / Qualification & Course Title (e.g. BSc., MA, etc.)
5.2 Other Skills
Other Professional Qualifications or Courses Taken
Key Professional/Academic Achievements or Awards
Other Relevant Skills (e.g. Languages,Coaching, TEFL, First Aid, Music, etc.)
Other Hobbies or Interests
6. Life Experience
6.1 What do you consider to be your two greatest experiences/achievements in life to date?
6.2 Have you volunteered in the developing world before?
If Yes, please give details of when, where, for how long and with what organisation(s): / Yes / No
6.3 Have you visited the developing world before?
If Yes, please give details of this visit: / Yes / No
6.4 Have you done any volunteer work at home here in Ireland?
If Yes, please give details of when, where, for how long and with what organisation(s): / Yes / No
6.5 Have you lived abroad before?
If Yes, please give details of when, where and in what capacity? / Yes / No
6.6 Please give details of any work you have done, either professionally or in a voluntary capacity, with people from different cultural backgrounds:
6.7 Do you have any experience of fundraising?
If Yes, please give details: / Yes / No
8. Placement Costs
VLM volunteers are required to pay a fee to cover the costs of their placement.
This is a once-off payment and no additional payments are expected before, during or after the placement.
This payment covers:
- All flights
- Accommodation and meals
- Internal transport
- Travel and health insurance
- All pre-departure training (including meals and resources)
- Debriefing session on return
- Discounts on future placements with VLM
- Fundraising guidance and resources (posters, t-shirts, etc.)
The following are not included in this payment and will need to be arranged by the volunteer:
- Visa costs (please visit the embassy website of the country you wish to travel to for application details)
- Travel vaccinations and medication (please visit your GP or for more information)
- Additional resources for placements (discussed in further detail at pre-departure training)
- Personal spending money (advice given at pre-departure training)
8.1 Can you confirm that you have read the above information regarding your placement fee and are fully aware of a) what is included in the cost and b) what is not included and is your responsibility, as a volunteer?
/ Yes / No
8.2Can you confirm that you will cover your volunteer placement fee of €3000
(€1990 for summer programme) in full before departure?
/ Yes / No
8.3 Can you confirm that you will pay your fee in full before your flights are booked
(4-6 weeks before departure). / Yes / No
8.4VLM volunteers choose various options to finance their placement fee.
Can you select which one(s)apply:
Fundraising through events
(table quizzes, bake-sales, raffles etc.) / Approaching local businesses or
benefactors for sponsorship
Grants/bursaries / Self-financing
8.5If fundraising solely through events, please give details of three main fundraising events you plan to run:
Event / Details & Resources Needed / Proposed Date & Location / Expected Amount Raised
1.
2.
3.
9. After Your Placement
VLM is a largely volunteer-run organisation. We rely on our returned volunteers to support the ongoing sustainability and development of the organisation. On your return, please confirm that you will continue to support VLM for at least two years in any of the following ways:
Representing VLM at exhibitions and volunteer fairs / Speaking at masses and other public events
Promoting VLM by word of mouth / Recruiting new volunteers
Contributing to building up the organisation / Facilitating training sessions at pre-departure
Supporting the organisation financially / Meeting with out-going volunteers to lend advice
Engaging with the media / Attending fundraising events
10. Finally
Please provide the names of two referees who have directly supervised your work and/or study:
1) Your current (or most recent) supervisor/manager/principal
2) Another supervisor with whom you have worked in the past two years e.g. previous manager, academic supervisor, volunteer work supervisor, etc.
Please inform your supervisors at the time of your application that VLM will be in contact with them regards your application.
Also note that friends, family members or informal acquaintances will not be accepted as suitable referees.
Referee 1: your current or most recent supervisor
Name: / Position Held:
Place of Work: / Telephone Number(s):
Email Address: / For how long has he/she supervised you?
When are the most appropriate times/days/dates to contact this person over the coming month?
Referee 2: Another supervisor with whom you have worked in the past two years:
Name: / Position Held:
Address: / Telephone Number(s):
Email Address: / For how long has he/she supervised you?
When are the most appropriate times/days/dates to contact this person over the coming month?
10.2 Additions
Any additional information/comments/questions that you would like to add to your application at this point?
10.3 Declaration
I hereby confirm that I have completed this application myself and that all information provided is accurate and correct.
I also understand that information here is shared with overseas partners for the purposes of arranging my placement. I am also aware that all of my information will be deleted/destroyed after three years.
Signed: / Date:
Please return your completed application form to the Projects Co-Ordinator at Vincentian Lay Missionaries .
You will be responded to within three working days.
We recommend that you keep a copy of your application form for your own future reference.
VLM endeavours to reach national standards
of best practice in volunteer recruitment,
training and support.
APPENDIX I – HEALTH & WELL-BEING
This info is not shared with overseas partners or insurance companies or other organisations, this is to ensure that volunteers are suitable for placement and that any special considerations are discussed at an early stage in the recruitment process.
i) assessing a candidate’s suitability to work with children and vulnerable people
ii) ensuring that all volunteers are physically fit to travel and work in difficult conditions
iii) Acknowledging that all candidates should be emotionally well at the time of their placement. Working in a challenging environment away from home can sometimes bring up issues and emotions for people.
Please answer the questions in this section honestly.
All disclosures are treated with sensitivity and confidentiality. As previously stated, this information is managed in line with data protection regulations.
a) As VLM takes the safeguarding of children seriously, all potential volunteers are required to complete Garda Vetting. Do you agree to this? / Yes / No
b) Can you confirm that there are no criminal convictions recorded against you in the Republic of Ireland or elsewhere or that no convictions appear on Garda records against you or that you have not been prosecuted, successful or not, pending or completed, in the State or elsewhere as the case may be? / Yes / No
c) Do you understand that VLM volunteers live in compounds and work under the guidance of the Daughters of Charity or Vincentian Fathers overseas? Can you confirm that you will respect the ethos and the community life of the Sisters and Fathers while on placement? / Yes / No
d) Are you physically fit to travel and work with VLM on an overseas placement? / Yes / No
e) Do you have any medical condition or special needs that VLM should be aware of? / Yes / No
If Yes, please give details:
f) If yes, has your doctor agreed that you are fit to go overseas? / Yes / No
g) Do you have any allergies or serious phobias (dogs, insects, etc)? / Yes / No
If yes, please give details:
h) Do you have any current or past psychiatric illness and/or have you ever suffered from symptoms of stress or anxiety which interfered with your day-to-day activities? / Yes / No
If yes, please give details:
i) You may be required to obtain a medical certificate of fitness to travel and work from your own doctor. However, VLM also reserves the right to require such a certificate from a designated doctor. Do you agree to this?
/ Yes / No
j) Are you grieving the recent (within the last two years) bereavement of a close family member or loved one? / Yes / No
If yes, please give details:
k) Are you recovering from a difficult life event such as the end of a serious relationship, bullying, traumatic event or accident or any other emotional trauma? / Yes / No
If yes, please give details:
l) You are responsible for having a consultation with a travel healthcare specialist before departure. You are also responsible for arranging the appropriate vaccinations and inoculations required for your assignment. The associated costs are not included in your volunteer payment. Do you agree to this?
/ Yes / No
m) You are responsible for bringing all necessary medication or medical equipment (e.g. mosquito netting and malaria tablets) with you. Details of the recommended medical supplies that you should bring on your assignment, will be given to you at pre-departure training or from a travel healthcare specialist.
/ Yes / No
n) While VLM provides travel, medical and personal insurance for the time you are on your placement, you are required to take out additional travel insurance for any additional travel or activities you wish to participate in while you are in-country. Do you agree to this? / Yes / No
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