Complete all sections
The application form requires every applicant (including organisers, healthcare professionals and established volunteers) to complete all sections of the form.
Completing the form correctly is aimed at safeguarding the interests of yourself and the young people in your care.
It is important that you use the application form to ‘sell’ yourself to Diabetes UK and the volunteers who will be leading the event(s) you have chosen. For example, if you have worked with young people in the past then ensure that you tell us where, when and what you contributed and learnt from that experience.
Police checks
Diabetes UK will carry out Criminal Records Checks on all volunteer applicants. You will be sent further information and a disclosure form, which must be completed and returned to Diabetes UK. All information will be treated in the strictest confidence.
Referees
It is essential to complete the section requesting the names and addresses of two referees even if you have volunteered in the past. One must be your present employer or tutor, who can be contacted for verification of the experience and skills you have stated on the form.
Training
Diabetes UK needs committed individuals to volunteer for our events and we insist that all volunteers for our programme attend a relevant form of training:
- All Children and Young People’s events volunteers must attend pre-event training. This will usually take place over one day. The training will provide important information for all volunteers and will give everyone a chance to meet their fellow team members. Further information will be sent with confirmation letters.
- All Family Event volunteers must ensure that they arrive at their weekend venue for 2pm for an introductory meeting and training with the Family Event Organiser.
Responsibilities
It is important to realise that for most of the time all staff will be working as general helpers and will be expected to participate in activities the children are pursuing. It is only when specific skills are required (i.e. at injection times, when the doctor and nurses will make adjustments to insulin) that staff with specialities are not acting as general helpers. Therefore if you are attending as a doctor, nurse or dietitian, you will be spending most of your time with the children as general leaders in a play / youth worker capacity.
Study leave
It is worth noting that Diabetes UK can provide help, particularly for healthcare professionals, with an application for study leave, should you require it to work on our events.
Any questions?
If you require further information about the role you are applying for, or have any other query concerning our events, then please email careevents@diabetes.org.uk.