Van Driver Donations Hub
At Turning Tides, we know that homelessness has so many possible root causes – domestic violence, debt, addiction, grief or mental health challenges, to name a few.
We believe that real change comes from more than a roof over someone’s head. With kindness and experience, our team of staff and volunteers help people tackle the issues behind their homelessness. Homelessness must never be normalised; we stand for a world where every person has a place to call home.
Volunteers are the backbone of Turning Tides. By contributing your time and expertise, you help people affected by homelessness to rebuild their lives and look to the future with optimism.
A bit about the role:
To drive the Turning Tides van.
Delivering goods from our central storage unit where items are stored before being redistributed to our projects. This could be to coastal towns, Shoreham to Littlehampton and also into other areas of Mid Sussex such as Horsham and East Grinstead.
What goes on here?
Our donations unit is the central point for all physical donations – furniture, food, clothing etc and our van drivers are crucial to supporting us deliver items to our services and clients.
What will I be doing?
- To drive the Turning Tides van carrying out deliveries and collections of items (including furniture) usually from people’s homes to our storage unit, or one of our Projects.
- This will include lifting and moving items (food crates and furniture) adhering to manual handling policy and using safety aids and with support where needed from the Van Assistant. Therefore, the role does need you to be physically fit and able to carry out these duties.
- To act at all times as a representative of Turning Tides in public, by adhering to the speed limit and all other motoring laws and to show other road users and pedestrians every possible courtesy, including ensuring people can pass by safely when the van is parked.
- To make an assessment, where appropriate, regarding the quality of donated items and only pick up those that meet our guidelines.
- To provide a high level of customer service by being polite and respectful to supporters, and to ensure that items being delivered or collected are handled and transported carefully.
- To contact the office immediately if there are any problems attending a delivery or collection.
- To immediately report to the Donations Coordinator any problems experienced during your volunteer duty such as shortages of fuel, damage to the van or customer complaints.
- To be committed to health and safety by taking precautions when lifting and carrying items as per Manual Handling training.
- To volunteer on a rota basis agreeing to come in at set times, and to give appropriate notice directly to the Donations Coordinator or Volunteer Coordinator if you are unable to attend.
- To record the mileage in the record book at the end of every duty.
What Training will I receive?
Before you start your volunteering, you will be invited to an induction. During this induction we will share with you our Volunteering Handbook.
The induction will cover Professional Boundaries, Safeguarding, Health and Safety and Equality and Diversity and be a chance for you to find out more about Turning Tides and ask any questions.
You will be provided with copies of
- Volunteering Handbook
- Code of Conduct
- Volunteering Policy
- Health & Safety Policy
- Fire Safety Policy
- Relevant Risk assessments for your role
- fit and able to carry out physical duties such as lifting and moving furniture.
- Full, clean driving licence.
- Professional Boundaries
- Dignity and Respect
The expectation is that you read these documents and adhere to these throughout all your volunteering activities.
This role requires the following training, and we ask that you can commit to this. (The training is in a variety of formats depending on the subject – a video to watch, a document to read or an online course). You will be sent a link to E-Learning after your induction with the relevant courses to your role.
It is Turning Tides’ hope and expectation that as a volunteer you will:
- Be inclusive and welcoming.
- communicate with staff on duty.
- Enthusiastic and enjoys being part of a busy team.
- Be flexible to the needs of the staff member on duty.
- Abide by the Confidentiality, Professional Boundaries and Health and Safety Policies at all times.
- Fit and able to carry out physical duties such as lifting and moving furniture.
- To be committed to health and safety by taking precautions when lifting and carrying items as per Manual Handling training.
- To immediately report to the Donations Coordinator any problems experienced during your volunteer duty.
- To volunteer on a rota basis agreeing to come in at set times, and to give appropriate notice directly to the Donations Coordinator or Volunteer Coordinator if you are unable to attend.
Sign Up Process
All of Turning Tides’ roles require our expression of interest form to be completed and two character references. These references do not need to be employment references, however, we cannot accept references from family members.
More Information
If you have any further queries please contact the Hannah on 07749 491285 or volunteering@turning-tides.org.uk