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Here you'll find answers to some of the questions that we're often asked. If what you need to know isn't included here, feel free to contact us and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
Are all activities accessible?
We do our best to make activities accessible. However, there will be some outdoor locations which could prevent individuals with mobility difficulties from participating in all challenges.
If you have any concerns, please contact us to discuss your individual needs. We’re happy to help you find an alternative role in certain challenges or to ensure that somebody is available to offer you the support you need to access core activities. It may be part of the group’s work to make sure that sites are made more inclusive and that challenges are selected which allow everybody to participate fully.
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Can I still claim JSA whilst I'm volunteering?
Yes. You can volunteer for as many hours as you want, as long as you still meet the conditions to get your benefit or tax credit.
The old rule that you could only volunteer for 16 hours a week no longer applies.
You can generally be refunded for your expenses by the organisation you are volunteering for without it affecting your benefit or credit. For tax credit purposes, any expenses you get for doing voluntary work will usually be disregarded when it comes to working out your income. If you are getting an income-related benefit, like Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance, Council Tax Benefit or Housing Benefit, then you must declare any payment, payments in kind, or expenses you receive for doing voluntary work. You will also need to keep all your receipts, to back up your claim.
If your adviser questions you about your voluntary work, we can provide a letter of support explaining your right to volunteer.
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Can I still claim Incapacity Benefit/ESA whilst I'm volunteering?
Yes, as long as you still meet the conditions to get your benefit or tax credit. You should inform your advisor before you start volunteering to make sure that they are happy for you to undertake your planned role in a voluntary capacity.
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I want to volunteer but I'm not really interested in cultural work. Can you help?
You don't have to be looking for a career in the arts to get involved in what we do! You could act as a mentor, be part of the Admin Club, or work on reception or in shops and cafes at some of our partner organisations. Anything to do with customer services, administration, marketing and similar work can fit into the project.
If you've decided that you definitely want to volunteer in another area - for example, in a hospital - but don't know how to get started, we're happy to put you in touch with agencies who can help.
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I'm an older person interested in volunteering. Can you help?
Museums Live! is designed mainly for young people aged 16+. There's deliberately no upper age limit because, if you're interested in what we do and you're happy to work alongside younger people, you're welcome to get involved. Many of the organisations we work with already have older volunteers, and we're keen to involve older people as leaders and mentors within the main project. If that doesn't appeal, then again we can put you in touch with your local volunteer centre who'll help you find something that does.
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I'm already volunteering with a local cultural organisation. Can I access training and support to help with my role?
We're happy to work with new organisations who have similar aims to our own. Get in touch with us, and we'll be happy to chat to you and/or somebody from your organisation to see how we can fit in to what you're doing. If you're volunteering and are not in education, employment or training, then we can almost certainly support you in some way.
We will expect the organisation you're working with to follow simple good practice guidelines for working with volunteers - for example, making sure that you receive all the information you need to feel comfortable and putting health and safety measures in place. If this doesn't happen already then we can help to set it up.
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I don't have access to my own transport. How will I get to my placement?
When we talk to you about the volunteering you'd like to do, we'll take into account where you live and whether you have access to a car. We'll help with your travel costs, whether that's mileage or public transport, and most organisations will be able to fit your working hours around bus or train timetables.
If you choose to volunteer frequently at a location some distance from your home, we may not be able to reimburse your costs in full.
When we run team challenges or events for a group of volunteers, we will usually provide minibus transport.
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I'd like to volunteer but need help with the application form
No problem! We don't judge you on how well you can write. If you have the commitment and enthusiasm for the role you're interested in we can help with any training that you need, including basic literacy and numeracy. To begin with, we're happy to come out and help you with the application form for your role, to find a translator or to arrange a face to face conversation.
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I've already got a lot of experience of this type of work. Will I be able to use my existing skills?
Yes. When we meet you, we'll identify what you can do as well as talking about your interests. If you have skills you can use to help make the project happen, to support a partner organisation or to share with other volunteers, then we can find a way to use them. We're often looking for senior volunteers to take the lead on specific aspects of the project, or to mentor somebody younger or less experienced.
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Will it cost me any money to volunteer?
No. We'll repay transport expenses, and any other out of pocket expenses. If childcare is a problem, we may be able to help with some of those costs as well.
If you choose to volunteer full time, or to travel a long distance from home, then we may not be able to pay your expenses in full. Make sure you agree these with us before committing to any placement.
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How long do I have to commit for?
As long as you like. You're welcome to come along to one team challenge just to give it a try, and we can usually set up taster sessions with other organisations before you start a placement. Sometimes we'll offer a project which lasts six weeks or so - if you join one of these, we hope that you'll be there right through unless you become ill, are offered paid work or have another good reason for leaving.
Certain organisations require you to undertake a lenghty training or induction process before you start work. It's only a good idea to start one of these if you expect to be available for some time, although we recognise that something unexpected can often change what you're able to do.
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