Volunteering

skysie98

Hi, need some help with a situation. I am 17 almost 18 and have suffered from depression for 3 years. I have a not fit to work note that my doctor gave me as I am not quite ready to work a lot of hours a week. So I started doing volunteer work at a cafe for young people however today one of the bosses saw my sick note and said she doesnt think I cn do volunteering on a sick note. It is helping me a lot my volunteering and the sick note was more to claim benefits for when i turn 18 until i feel strong enough to work full time and a certain set hours a week as at the place I work hours are flexible and if I cant make it in they understand. Any advice?

xapprenticex

Try the CAB or even AgeUK, a voluntary service that helps people basically.

There are various roles and they will be more sympathetic to your situation. You will learn valuable skills too assuming you dont want to work in a cafe long term.

SailorSam

Do you like animals ? Places like the Dogs Trust always need volunteers, and animals are non-judgmental

kingfisherblue

Volunteering can help a great deal with depression, self esteem and confidence. It gives you a focus and a reason to get out of the house. I volunteer as a Rainbow and Brownie leader and it has helped my depression a great deal, especially in the early years of having the condition.

In addition, volunteering can help you to develop a number of skills. You could gain an up-to-date reference for work in the future. Friendships can develop with people of all ages, and as volunteering is a link, you often have similar interests.

There are many places that you could volunteer. You could think of the cafe as a stepping stone towards offering your time to someone else. Instead of volunteering for a business, maybe you could have a look at the charities in your area. Are there any that appeal to you? Do you have any particular interests, or have you always wanted to follow a career path where you could learn something from voluntary work?

If you are claiming sickness or income related benefits, I believe that you have to declare any voluntary work, but in most cases you can continue with it, but it may have to be for a charity or not for profit organisation. I was told that I couldn't volunteer for a business that makes a profit, but that was several years ago and I don't know if that is still the case. I had to provide a letter from my Commissioner, stating that I am a volunteer and do not receive payment for my time.

fishybusiness

It is likely a business may be invalidating their liability insurance if they allow a person to work or volunteer whilst being unfit for work.

Doesn't mean you can't work safely, just that there is a question mark over your abilities until assessed.

Maybe a risk assessment by the 'employer' could get around it, depends on the organisation.

sangie595

I think that people are possibly misunderstanding the supervisors comments here.

It seems to me that there are two possible issues here. The first, which I think is what the owner is suggesting, is that they are not sure whether someone can be on a sick note and not be fit for any work, but also volunteer. And the answer to that is that they can, subject to having properly notified any benefit agencies involved. However, in their shoes, I might want to ensure that I have a risk assessment in place, have cleared it with my insurers, and, preferably, have something from the persons GP confirming that they are happy with it. After all, from their point of view, they do not know whether what they are doing is beneficial or damaging for the person. I can't see that clarifying this would be anything other than good for the OP.

However, I am slightly concerned about the description of an "owner" of the caf!. It may be that the OP hasn't understood their role, but I hope that this is not a "real" caf!, as in a private business? Because what you cannot really do is volunteer for a business. It is called working and there are laws in place for that, including the minimum wage.

missbiggles1

Volunteering is a great thing but, at your age, you may well be better off in education or training. A college is more likely to be able to offer you support for your health problems but also you only have a short window where FE courses are available to you for free.

Malthusian

sangie595 wrote: »

However, I am slightly concerned about the description of an "owner" of the caf!. It may be that the OP hasn't understood their role, but I hope that this is not a "real" caf!, as in a private business?

"Cafe for young people" suggests what I would call a "youth centre" or "community centre". They usually have a kitchen serving cheap tea/coffee/soft drinks through a hole in the wall. I've never seen a Starbucks-type outfit specifically for young people.

And owners would presumably be the people that run it - I'm never sure myself what you call the equivalent of a business owner in a voluntary organisation, despite being one ("director" is far too grand).

sangie595

Malthusian wrote: »

"Cafe for young people" suggests what I would call a "youth centre" or "community centre". They usually have a kitchen serving cheap tea/coffee/soft drinks through a hole in the wall. I've never seen a Starbucks-type outfit specifically for young people.

And owners would presumably be the people that run it - I'm never sure myself what you call the equivalent of a business owner in a voluntary organisation, despite being one ("director" is far too grand).

I mostly agree, which is why I said what I did. But third sector organisations are also covered by employment law, and if there is an "owner" or other circumstances that suggest this is not volunteering, then employment law rules, whoever owns it.

And really, if you haven't seen the starbucks equivalent for just young people then you haven't lived - there are two within a very short distance of here, both run and managed by third sector organisations. And neither of which would have volunteers in them (although the parent organisations do use volunteers) precisely because of how close to the line they step when it comes to employment. You see, I agree with MissBiggles - the OP is 17, and working in a caf! for young people as a volunteer? Given their position, I am failing to see, even if this is volunteering, what benefit a 17 year old with mental health problems from serving coffee to other 17 year olds. At their age they should be in education, or at least in a form of volunteering that is enabling them to build skills and capacity. Serving coffee is doing them no favours.

skysie98

sangie595 wrote: »

I mostly agree, which is why I said what I did. But third sector organisations are also covered by employment law, and if there is an "owner" or other circumstances that suggest this is not volunteering, then employment law rules, whoever owns it.

And really, if you haven't seen the starbucks equivalent for just young people then you haven't lived - there are two within a very short distance of here, both run and managed by third sector organisations. And neither of which would have volunteers in them (although the parent organisations do use volunteers) precisely because of how close to the line they step when it comes to employment. You see, I agree with MissBiggles - the OP is 17, and working in a caf! for young people as a volunteer? Given their position, I am failing to see, even if this is volunteering, what benefit a 17 year old with mental health problems from serving coffee to other 17 year olds. At their age they should be in education, or at least in a form of volunteering that is enabling them to build skills and capacity. Serving coffee is doing them no favours.

The cafe i work in is run by community access and volunteers bascially run it. I was in education but due to depression and home life I unfortunatly couldnt carry on. We sell coffee, cakes etc to people of all ages we bake all our produce it helps with customer service and gaining confidence ready for work.

skysie98

missbiggles1 wrote: »

Volunteering is a great thing but, at your age, you may well be better off in education or training. A college is more likely to be able to offer you support for your health problems but also you only have a short window where FE courses are available to you for free.

I was in education and am thinking og going back.I left in march due to my depression and home life.