to not volunteer for St John's Ambulance?

[MaMaLa321]

I applied to be a steward at our local Covid vaccination centre - basically standing around in the cold, showing people where to go.
My online application form arrived yesterday, and my heart sank when I saw that it had eight sections. But I gamely started, telling them why I wanted to do it, and why I would be good at doing it.
Then I found two references.
Then I was asked for my employment and volunteering history. I've been retired for several years, and , before that, had several jobs. I really don't see why that information is needed.
Then of course, the gender, ethnicity, 'do I fully identify as the gender I was assigned at birth' and which religion I identify as.
Just to steward people around.
So, I've given up. It just seems utterly disproportionate to me.

So don't then. Nobody's twisting your arm. But pardon them if they want to know who they've got supporting in critical delivery of healthcare and who might be most qualified and helpful.

(I filled out the whole form. It was what I expected. I am glad they are validating people carefully.)

And it's St John Ambulance

I have completed all of the above, and the interview and the training to be a vaccinator. Hopefully start soon. Worth it but if it's not for you that's fine!

Is it a paid position? If so what did you expect??

Is it a paid position? If so what did you expect??

The title says volunteer.

If you want to you could contact your local GP surgery and offer to help there or at the primary care vaccination centre they are feeding into instead - they may have less onerous recruitment requirements.

They are needing things about you to try to get a picture about who you are. You will have contact with vulnerable people so a dbs and references would be the normal expectation for such a role (just because you will be outside doesn't mean you couldn't be up to no good eg offer a lift to someone then befriend them) it might sound far fetched to you but anyone with insincere motives could see volunteering in this way as a soft target - just ask any church, we have to be so aware of this.

The gender and religion is for monitoring purposes. Remember you are offering the references, they need independent corroboration eg last employer

I'd be pretty confident in thinking that anyone who cannot be bothered to fill in an application, isn't a suitable person for that role.

@Pikoty

I'd be pretty confident in thinking that anyone who cannot be bothered to fill in an application, isn't a suitable person for that role.

This.

Pretty sure every application form I’ve ever filled in has those questions on it. Completely normal

Hi, I work with volunteers and there will always be some type of application, but it should be proportionate to the role. I have no time for people who think we should bite their hands off simply because theyve offered, that's not how it works anymore, there may be forms/interviews/dbs. However I think you are right, this is a big ask for a temporary stewarding role, I would only expect a one page details form and a quick chat on the phone. Personally I would probably email them and politely say you have been put off by the amount of info required. Leave it at that though, dont try to tell them how they should gave done it, no ones got time for moaners!

How dreadful! A whole eight sections, plus references!!

Op, seriously, get a grip. They have to vet volunteers.

Companies and organisations who have both staff and volunteers are expected to be able to put the same checks and safeguards in place for both groups. We have to make sure not only that we're looking after our service users by not giving random weirdos a position of authority or trust (people will rightly or wrongly assume those volunteer stewards are trained and capable and are giving them the right instructions), but we also have to make sure we're not asking the volunteers to do anything they're not equipped, able or comfortable to do.

Well they do have to satisfy that you are trustworthy, not a seriel killer or crook hence the forms and references.
The other info about gender , religion etc is to ensure no one is discriminated.
Definately not disproportinate.

If you can't actually be bothered to fill the form out then I don't think it's the right position for you to volunteer unfortunately.

Hundreds of thousands of people signed up to volunteer in March/ April, but when it came to actually doing anything, only a small number stepped up. This is the same, if you can't be bothered to complete the form, chances are you won't be particularly committed to the role.

Even the most basic minimum wage jobs are like this now, so volunteer roles will be the same.
Imagine doing several of those a week in an attempt to get a job.

I volunteered to help in some archives and was very surprised at having to write and tell them why I wanted to do it. Thought it was a bit daft but did it anyway.

SJA has for long time had a lot of paperwork for their volunteers, even the youth branches have a good few pages for those volunteering with the public.

Some of it is to make sure they have the right people, some of it is to cover themselves - they are a charity with legal requirements to be seen to be meeting. Feel free to email to tell them the amount is off-putting to you - the feedback can be helpful - just don't go on about it or expect them to change anything.

I hate forms like this. Instantly puts me off applying for things. They don't need all that information to employ you and that always leads to working/volunteering for a place where the management does a bunch of stuff that's bloated/unnecessary/bureaucratic.
Basically if I have to degrade myself by sharing intrusive and unnecessary information at the preliminary screening stage to apply for a job I don't bother because it shows how they'll treat me later on.

I really don't see why that information is needed.

If they have 5 places and 10 volunteers then they're going to go with the application who is used to working with the public/completing forms/able to follow instructions/etc. over someone who has no experience. Volunteering has become more popular recently due to people losing their jobs and using it to add to their CV.

C'mon cut the op some slack, she's retired and if she'd been working a long time on the same place beforehand she's could have not filled in a job application form for years of at all. The complexity can be overwhelming..

@NoOneOwnsTheRainbow

I hate forms like this. Instantly puts me off applying for things. They don't need all that information to employ you and that always leads to working/volunteering for a place where the management does a bunch of stuff that's bloated/unnecessary/bureaucratic. Basically if I have to degrade myself by sharing intrusive and unnecessary information at the preliminary screening stage to apply for a job I don't bother because it shows how they'll treat me later on.

I think everywhere I applied to when I was job hunting asked for that information, that was for minimum wage retail jobs. It did annoy me when I had to fill all the info in AND include my CV. There are loads of people applying for every job so they have the pick of who they want.

Also, "degrade myself"

I can assure you that I would have been committed to do this. It's just that I'm not committed to fill in a long and intrusive form to satisfy the bureaucracy.
I would understand if it was a different role, but I'm not going to recreate my CV for this, and that's just a start.

and , if the STJ feel that they can pick and choose, the situation is not as bad as I thought.

Hi Op l have done loads of volunteering work in the past.!

Volunteer work is Just as valuable as paid work.!!
Even the my Local Job Centre respects/Values Volunteer work Aswell
Why do some people think Cause its Volunteer work it does not deserve the same Consirderation/respect etc paid work has in in society for heavens sake !!!
Also Volunteer work adds more skills /work experiences /can even in certain instances give you a step in the door of similar Career path/paid Job or show you willing or have what it takes (Transferable skills/experience for totally different career path .!
It is Normal for whoever Charity to check if you are Trustworthy such as wanting Character references from two people
Rember you are a stranger to them
How on earth are they to know you are genuine person wanting to help
Or a bit of weirdo/Phony with intentions that are not so good?

Perfect Normal for charity to want to know your Gender/Race and Age
So nobody screams at Charity that they are being Racist/Sexist/Ageist in any way,discrimination

Also Charity knowing your paid work/Career /Volunteer work history
Is for charity to check that you know, that you are Capable enough, and really know/understand what you letting yourself in for.
So potential volunteer can not scream/moan/etc at Charity And Say
I didn't have a clue it was going to be like this or this hard etc.!

I do agree that the amount of paper work is excessive too much
And its not envorimentally aware too.!
St Johns Ambulance obviously wants their volunteer application to be like this for potential volunteer to show how committed they are to carry out activities required from them as a charity
I just think there is a better way less pages they could achieve this same Aim this charity..

I disagree with poster @GreenBeeSW
Stating nobody wants moaners about Op just mentioning that she was put off by very Loooong Application form
As if its off putting to Op, then it could be off putting to some other potential volunteers too,
So giving Construction Criticism (in a way that helps charity in a way to enhance recruiting prospects will obviously be beneficial to them,
St Johns Ambulance could be struggling a bit/some what or lot to acctract new volunteers and this could well be the reason or one of them at least..

Op
Don't be put off completing forms for volunteering
Just see it as its the process they charity to get the best possible suitable candidate and for the potential volunteer to have experience that is likewise and opportunity to get most out of this..
Best luck whatever you do

@MaMaLa321

I can assure you that I would have been committed to do this. It's just that I'm not committed to fill in a long and intrusive form to satisfy the bureaucracy. I would understand if it was a different role, but I'm not going to recreate my CV for this, and that's just a start.

You'll probably find a lot more bureaucracy within the role. Your attitude to the application shows that you're clearly not suitable