Voluntary work for a Charity/Church

samkma

Sine January 2012 I volunteer 3 days a week (10hrs in total) and head a project that is run with the support of a Church (a registered charity)
I am the co-founder of the community project and have been there from day one.
I am not paid any salary or wages, but have recently been allowed to claim mileage(at 25p/mile)
I am having some problem with the trustees now, I do not have a contract but only a letter from the Church to confirm my role and start date.

Where do I stand in terms of Employment Law?

Can someone guide me to the right place?

I have looked at the Charity commission website, but did not find much.

notanewuser

samkma wrote: »

Sine January 2012 I volunteer 3 days a week (10hrs in total) and head a project that is run with the support of a Church (a registered charity)
I am the co-founder of the community project and have been there from day one.
I am not paid any salary or wages, but have recently been allowed to claim mileage(at 25p/mile)
I am having some problem with the trustees now, I do not have a contract but only a letter from the Church to confirm my role and start date.

Where do I stand in terms of Employment Law?

Can someone guide me to the right place?

I have looked at the Charity commission website, but did not find much.

What's the problem, and why do you think it would be covered by employment law when you aren't employed?

saintjammyswine

Are you a volunteer employee?

Little_Vics

If you are having issues, get in touch with your local volunteer centre (find the details on the Volunteering England website) who will be able to advise.

But, you are a volunteer so won't have a contract.....

samkma

notanewuser wrote: »

What's the problem, and why do you think it would be covered by employment law when you aren't employed?

The problem being, I did all the hard work to set up the project and has been up and running since Oct 2012, is become very successful, now they want me to step aside and they have someone to be employed! Unfairness in all forms.

samkma

saintjammyswine wrote: »

Are you a volunteer employee?

What is a volunteer employee?

saintjammyswine

samkma wrote: »

What is a volunteer employee?

Someone who is formally employed but not paid for their employment. With a contract as per any other employee.

Little_Vics

there's probably more of an issue about whether they went through a fair recruitment process for the paid job (adverts, application forms, interviews) and whether you were given the chance to apply.

ACAS or Volunteering England are the people to talk to.

heretolearn_2

It's unfair, but it isn't illegal in any way.

You are not an employee so are not covered by any employment laws.

On the above post, there is no legal requirement to advertise a job, or allow anyone to apply etc. The only restriction on recruitment is that you cannot refuse someone a job for legally discriminatory reasons (which isn't the case here) compared to other applicants. If an employer, even a charity, wants to just offer a job to someone they know, they can.

samkma

heretolearn wrote: »

It's unfair, but it isn't illegal in any way.

You are not an employee so are not covered by any employment laws.

On the above post, there is no legal requirement to advertise a job, or allow anyone to apply etc. The only restriction on recruitment is that you cannot refuse someone a job for legally discriminatory reasons (which isn't the case here) compared to other applicants. If an employer, even a charity, wants to just offer a job to someone they know, they can.

Do I have an right to protest? take note this is a Church!

notanewuser

samkma wrote: »

Do I have an right to protest? take note this is a Church!

Churches are no special case.

Presumably your god will register any unhappiness with the situation via a bolt of lightning/plague of frogs.