Introduction
Thank you for agreeing to give your time on a voluntary basis Newry & Mourne Community Transport. This document is designed to clarify the relationship between you and Newry & Mourne Community Transport.
Newry & Mourne Community Transport aims to provide high quality services to the community and as such we do expect that when you offer to volunteer for us you will honour your commitment to the activities and training that you have agreed to carry out.
Newry & Mourne Community Transport undertakes to provide you with the knowledge and skills necessary to carry out your activities safely and efficiently. Voluntary activities at Newry & Mourne Community Transport can be rewarding and satisfying. We try very hard to offer you a variety of activities and to make sure that your time is rewarding and enjoyable.
Training – Volunteer Drivers
All drivers of Newry & Mourne Community Transport minibuses must undertake a driving assessment and a training session on passenger care and the safe carriage of passengers in wheelchairs. All passenger assistants must also undertake passenger safety training. Newry & Mourne Community Transport’s procedures on driver training and assessing are approved by the Minibus Driver Awareness Scheme (MiDAS), which is a nationally recognised scheme for non- –vocational minibus drivers. On successful completion of the assessment you will be issued with a MiDAS certificate. Newry & Mourne Community Transport will endeavour to ensure that all volunteer drivers are given ample opportunity to pass their MiDAS assessment, however, should Newry & Mourne Community Transport’s MiDAS assessor determine that you do not have the skills to drive a mini-bus, the assessors decision will be binding. The MiDAS assessment is regarded as the minimum requirement for volunteer drivers and passenger assistants. To ensure you have the skills and knowledge and confidence to undertake your duties.
The programme consists of the following: Disability Awareness, Manual Handling, Emergency & Evacuation Procedures, Basic Health & Safety, Equal Opportunities, Minibus Safety & Maintenance Checks and Customer Service. Newry & Mourne Community Transport anticipates that all new volunteers will have completed their Core Skills training within the first 10 to 12 weeks of becoming a volunteer.
Insurance
Whilst undertaking your voluntary activities with Newry & Mourne Community Transport you will be covered under Newry & Mourne Community Transport’s insurance policies. This includes fully comprehensive insurance, public liability and personal accident cover. We take the issue of appropriate insurance very seriously and you are entitled to have sight of the relevant policies if required.
Expenses
At Newry & Mourne Community Transport we believe that no volunteers should be out of pocket when giving their time on a voluntary basis to the community. Accordingly we have a system of flat rate expenses, which we will pay when you undertake your voluntary activities. The principle is that these expenses should cover necessary travel and refreshment during the period of your duties.
Driving requires concentration and alertness and this cannot be maintained if you do not take appropriate rest and refreshments. It is your responsibility to ensure that volunteer expenses are used for the sole purpose for which they are provided.
Voluntary Activities & Benefits
If you are currently looking for paid work and are in receipt of any benefits, i.e. unemployment benefit such as Job Seekers Allowance etc, it is your responsibility to inform your adviser at the Job Centre that you are carrying out voluntary activities for Newry & Mourne Community Transport. If you need any clarification on entitlement to expenses speak to the Volunteer Co-ordinator.
Equal Opportunities
Newry & Mourne Community Transport recognises that discrimination does exist in many forms in society, and we aim to promote Equal Opportunities as an employer and as a provider of services. At Newry & Mourne Community Transport we encourage people from all sections of the community to join our volunteer team. We have an equal opportunities policy, which sets out Newry & Mourne Community Transport’s views on the kinds of discrimination, which exist in society. To enable us to deliver its services effectively it is very important that everyone understands that discrimination of any kind is not acceptable. As a volunteer you are expected to uphold the values of the organisation and conduct yourself in accordance with the policy. If you wish to look at the Policy please ask the Volunteer Co-ordinator.
Health & Safety
At Newry & Mourne Community Transport we are aware that for us to carry out our activities safely we need to take Health and Safety matters very seriously. All our vehicles are rigorously maintained in accordance with Department of Transport guidelines by our workshop staff. Regular servicing and independent safety checks are carried out. As a driver you are responsible for carrying out basic maintenance & safety checks contained on the vehicle log sheet before leaving Newry & Mourne Community Transport premises, you will be given training to ensure you are clear of you responsibilities. You should complete the checklist even if everything is in order. Your comments and notification of faults are vital in order for us to rectify faults as they arise.
When you are volunteering for Newry & Mourne Community Transport we do expect you to maintain or exceed the standards you demonstrated on your assessment and to comply with the training you received. How you carry out your activities reflects on Newry & Mourne Community Transport as an organisation and it is pleasing to note that we receive far more complimentary comments from passengers than complaints. If you are not sure about how to use a particular piece of equipment or would like advice about any aspect of your activities please talk to any member of staff at Newry & Mourne Community Transport who will be happy to be of assistance.
Commitment
As a volunteer driver with Newry & Mourne Community Transport you will be providing a front line service and Newry & Mourne Community Transport places a very high value on customer service/satisfaction. It is you responsibility to ensure that your health and fitness levels enable you to cope with the demands of your volunteer’s activities. We expect that all volunteers will comply with the following:
· Be of neat and tidy experience
· Be punctual and reliable in carrying out your activities
· Be polite and courteous to all passengers, staff and other volunteers
Problems
Occasionally you may feel that you have cause for complaint about an aspect of your activities at Newry & Mourne Community Transport. We hope this does not happen but if it does we do have a procedure in place, which is designed to provide clear steps that need to be taken. Similarly if your conduct for Newry & Mourne Community Transport falls short of what we can reasonable expect there is a procedure, which will be followed to ensure that the matter is dealt with fairly and efficiently.
Finally if there is anything you are not sure about in relation to volunteering at Newry & Mourne Community Transport please speak to the Volunteer Co-ordinator.
Declaration
I have read and understood the above Volunteer Agreement and am willing to undertake voluntary activities for Newry & Mourne Community Transport.
This agreement sets out expectations intentions and is binging in honour only.