Surrey Association for Visual Impairment. Making a visible difference in Surrey.

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Volunteer Recruitment - How to help

Volunteers for SAVI carry out a huge variety of tasks for us and our service uses and this support is integral in helping us reach our goals of achieving greater independence for visually impaired people in Surrey. Put simply, we could not do half of what we do or reach half of the people we do without our volunteers. The roles are diverse and rewarding, and because they are all flexible, there is something for everyone.

If you want a regular weekly task to get your teeth into or something that you can occasionally fit in around your busy life, then we have a role for you.

There is not a specific type of person who volunteer for us and our volunteering scheme is open to most people. Our volunteers' ages range from 17 to 99 years (We do have a lower age restriction of 17 years). One third of them have a visually impairment. Volunteering is a community act and the diversity of our volunteer reflect this.

The recruitment process for SAVI is very straightforward and simple. Generally after the initial contact the co-ordinator will arrange to meet you to discuss the options and tell you a little more about the charity.

If you want to proceed an application form will be completed. At this stage we ask for two referees (not relatives) and we complete a Criminal Records Check in all cases. (ID is required to support this application).

Whilst the administration side of things being processed, all volunteers attend a training/induction day to learn more about us and what we do, see our offices and facilities and learn the basics of sighted guide techniques.

Once the training is successfully completed and all paperwork is received, we are able to place the volunteer in the agreed role. From time to time we run first aid courses that are free for volunteers to attend and are run by St John Ambulance.

If you think you would like to join SAVI as a volunteer please contact the Co-ordinator, Dennis Saunders on: 01372 377701 ext 239 or email to: dsaunders@sa-vi.org.uk

You can read the Volunteer newsletter Help in Sight, go to the newsletters link.

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