Volunteering guidelines

Can Do Bristol connects groups and organisations in need of volunteers with the people and businesses who can help.

We don’t control the content of each volunteering opportunity but we do ensure they meet our platform guidelines. Within 3-5 working days of submitting your advert, one of the following will happen:

1. Approved: Your opportunity will go live for members to pledge.
2. Deleted: Your opportunity will not meet our criteria and be deleted
3. Reported: Your opportunity will be reported and you will be receive a notification email from us.
4. Pending: Your opportunity will be saved but hidden, and we will contact you for more information.

Criteria for approval

Organisations:

• Must be based in Bristol or within 5 miles of the city boundary.

Volunteer opportunities:

• Must occur in Bristol, within 5 miles of the boundary, or be an "International Project".
• Should benefit a community (either a geographic area or a specific group).
• Must be unpaid (expenses can be reimbursed).
• Should be open to anyone with the necessary skills and availability.

Unapproved opportunities (Deleted)

We reserve the right to reject or delete opportunities that:

• Are defamatory, obscene or offensive.
• Promote discrimination or religious / political beliefs.
• Contain unsolicited advertising.

We do not promote paid roles, unpaid internships or unpaid roles that help for-profit organisations raise revenue, except when recruiting volunteers for charitable purposes.

Reported and pending opportunities

We may ask you to revise your opportunity if:

• It lacks essential information (e.g. time commitment).
• It lacks an image.
• The objectives aren't clear or if it might not be a voluntary role.

Areas beyond Bristol

Opportunities in North Somerset and South Gloucestershire must meet the following:

• Place-based activities: Within 5 miles of the Bristol City boundary.
• Home-based opportunities: Most beneficiaries must be within the same boundary.

National volunteering

National and Bristol-based organisations can promote volunteering if:

• Activities are accessible from home or based in Bristol.
• A significant number of beneficiaries are in Bristol.

Your responsibilities

Organisations must:

• Follow up with volunteers.
• Log their volunteer hours.
• Conduct background checks.
• Risk assess volunteer activities.
• Ensure appropriate insurance and public liability.
• Provide adequate support and guidance.
• Update activities if there are significant changes.

Individuals posting opportunities

Only organisations, groups or public bodies that work with volunteers can post opportunities. Individuals cannot request volunteer help for safety reasons.

Individuals offering help

Individuals should not upload volunteering opportunities. Instead, they can explore the activity stream of available opportunities.

Support

Managed by Bristol City Council, you can direct queries or complaints to:

• Email: neighbourhoodsandcommunities@bristol.gov.uk
• Message the Community Resources profile on Can Do Bristol.

Last updated: August 2024