Working as a Volunteer

Transcription

1 Unit 2: Working as a Volunteer Unit code: D/503/2828 QCF Level: Level 1 Credit value: 2 Guided learning hours: 10 Unit aim The aim of this unit is for learners to develop understanding of the role of volunteers and the skills required for different types of voluntary work. In this unit learners apply for and participate in a voluntary work activity. Unit introduction Working as a volunteer can be very rewarding and enjoyable. It is also a good way to meet people of different ages, cultural backgrounds and nationalities who have similar interests. Working as a volunteer can also give learners the opportunity to gain new skills which are transferable to paid employment. The focus of this unit is to help learners understand the importance of volunteers in a range of situations, for example, working in a charity shop on a regular basis, helping out on a local marathon or completing community involvement as part of the Duke Of Edinburgh s Award. In this unit, learners will consider the areas where volunteers are used and the skills required by volunteers in different areas of voluntary work. Learners will also have the opportunity to apply for an area of voluntary work which interests them. For this unit learners must participate in some form of voluntary work. A specified time for the voluntary work is not given, but it must be sufficient to allow them to gain the knowledge and experience needed to meet the learning outcomes. 27

2 Learning outcomes and assessment criteria In order to pass this unit, the evidence that the learner presents for assessment needs to demonstrate that they can meet all the learning outcomes for the unit. The assessment criteria determine the standard required to achieve the unit. Learning outcomes 1. Understand the role volunteers play in different volunteering situations Assessment criteria 1.1 Identify different situations where volunteers are used 1.2 Explain why the role of volunteers is important in different volunteering situations 2 Be able to undertake voluntary work 2.1 Identify the skills required for different types of voluntary work 2.2 Apply for voluntary work, adhering to application requirements 2.3 Complete a voluntary work activity according to a given brief 28 and Diploma specialist qualification in WorkSkills Issue 2 July 2011 Edexcel Limited 2011

3 Unit content 1 Understand the role volunteers play in different volunteering situations Volunteering situations: volunteering roles, eg charity shops, conservation projects, animal sanctuaries, shelters for homeless people, youth clubs, lunch clubs, street collections to raise funds, emergency relief work, VSO Roles of volunteers in situations: back office functions, eg sorting and pricing goods for a charity shop; customer facing functions, eg serving in a charity shop or working on a stall during fundraising events; specialist roles, eg cooking for a lunch club or homeless shelter, working as an adviser for a telephone advice line, emergency relief work Importance of volunteers: to provide expertise; to provide time; to provide extra help; to provide new ideas; to respond in an emergency 2 Be able to undertake voluntary work Skills for voluntary work: general skills, eg cheerfulness, empathy, reliability, punctuality; communication skills, eg verbal, written, teamworking skills, receiving and giving instructions, confidentiality, being non-judgemental; specific skills or abilities needed for some types of voluntary work, eg driving, cooking, using a computer, being able to communicate using sign language, physical fitness Apply to become a volunteer: match skills and interests to voluntary work; different application methods, eg phone, , letter, application form, visit Voluntary work: suitable work which matches skills and interests, eg gardening for person who is disabled, helping at a youth club, helping at an animal sanctuary, craft activity in a residential home for elderly people 29

4 Essential guidance for tutors Delivery The emphasis of this unit is to make learners aware of the importance of voluntary work to all those involved and to develop an understanding of the range of skills required to take part. This will help learners in identifying the skills required for a preferred area of voluntary work, enable them to apply for voluntary work and complete a brief period of voluntary work. Delivery methods could include learner-centred tasks such as groupwork and research tasks and learner-led presentations to explore a wide a range of volunteering situations. Websites may be a good source of information, for example Volunteering/index.htm Understanding the skills required by different volunteers could be covered by case studies that include volunteers in a range of volunteering situations, or by guest speakers. Learners could answer questions on a worksheet identifying the skills needed by the volunteer. Learners could work in pairs to determine which skills are common to all areas of voluntary work and which are specific to particular volunteering work, for example communication skills for visiting the elderly, physical skills and physical fitness for outdoor work, and then report back to the rest of the group. Posters could be designed to show the generic skills and specific skills required by volunteers which could then be displayed in class. Centres should be able to cover Learning Outcome 2 through practical activities which could include completing real or simulated application forms for volunteering work, writing application letters and role-play telephone conversations. Learners are to complete a brief period of voluntary work for Learning Outcome 2. Tutorials will provide an opportunity for tutors to discuss the interests and skills of individual learners in order to arrange a brief period of suitable voluntary work. Tutors should provide learners with guidance about the voluntary work, the skills required, the timescale to complete the work and any supervision arrangements. 30 and Diploma specialist qualification in WorkSkills Issue 2 July 2011 Edexcel Limited 2011

5 Assessment This unit can be assessed through a series of structured tasks or assignments involving a mixture of theoretical and practical application. To meet 1.1, the learner must identify at least three situations where volunteers are used. For 1.2 the learner must provide a short explanation of why volunteers are important for the three situations they identified in 1.1. For 2.1 they must able to identify the skills required for a range of types of voluntary work. Both these criteria could be assessed through one-to-one discussion with the tutor. Responses must be recorded for verification purposes. A letter, record of a telephone call or completed application form for voluntary work could provide the evidence required for 2.2. The evidence must show that the learner has understood and followed the appropriate guidelines in applying for the voluntary work. The learner could complete a log or diary to record the tasks completed in their voluntary work experience for 2.3. This need to be verified by the supervisor of the voluntary work. Links to other BTEC units, other BTEC qualifications and other relevant units and qualifications This unit forms part of the WorkSkills from Edexcel suite. It has particular links with: Entry Level Level 1 Level 2 Unit 2: Working as a Volunteer Unit 2: Working as a Volunteer Essential resources Learners must undertake a brief period of voluntary work. Websites g/dg_