How Helping Hands works

Organisational structure

Helping Hands is a support network run for the community by the community. We maintain a database of volunteers of men and women of all ages from across the community. Each volunteer has agreed to help out in whatever way he or she feels most able, within the time limits of that person. All volunteers have the benefit of the support network within Helping Hands and from outside professionals if needed.

The Helping Hands telephone helpline (01273 747722) provides a sympathetic and confidential ear for those that are in need of help. The same phone number receives calls from would-be volunteers. Our coordinator matches those that need with those that volunteer. If necessary, they will also involve various professional bodies from within the community.

Our volunteers receive a volunteering pack and a newsletter and are looked after by our volunteer liaison officer, who ensures that their volunteering experience is going well, offers support and advice and deals with any problems which may arise.

Helping Hands is backed by many other people who meet on a regular basis to ensure the smooth and effective running of the organisation. Everybody that works for Helping Hands does so on a voluntary basis, with a commitment to providing care for those in need in the Brighton & Hove community.

Practicalities of volunteering

As mentioned above, when you apply to become a volunteer for Helping Hands, you will be matched up with someone who needs your help and assistance.

It is important that you feel happy and comfortable in what you do as part of Helping Hands. If the nature of the problem that you are dealing with goes beyond your experience or expertise, we would enlist the help of a relevant specialist body or support service, with the consent of the community member in need.

Similarly, if you felt that you were unable to continue with your present client, but would like to help in some other way, you would get in touch with Helping Hands as soon as possible and we would act to remedy the situation.

When visiting a client, it is important to be punctual. Please phone both your client and Helping Hands if you have any problems in keeping appointments.

You will be required to carry a Helping Hands Identity Card, for which a passport size photo is required. This must be shown to the client upon entering their premises.

Once contact is made with a new client, volunteers continue to arrange visits themselves but report to Helping Hands to let us know how the visits are progressing and if there are any changes of appointments that they make.

Never disclose your telephone number or surname to a client. Communication with the client outside of visits is maintained through Helping Hands.

Confidentiality must be maintained at all times.

If you as a volunteer feel unable to continue to help Helping Hands, please do not hesitate to contact us.

If you hear of anyone who you think Helping Hands can help, please let us know.

If you know of anyone who wishes to help Helping Hands, please let us know.

If you would like to help, register as a volunteer now or find out more about the different volunteering opportunities with Helping Hands.