Welcome to Men United Volunteer handbook Men United. Keeping friendships alive.
Welcome to Men United Thank you for volunteering and joining us in the fight against prostate cancer. Without people like you we would be unable to provide many of the vital services that men with prostate cancer and their families rely on. You may be living with or have had prostate cancer yourself, be a friend of someone who has, or you may simply be inspired by our cause. Through Men United, we re keeping friendships alive, and you are now part of our movement for everyone who believes men are worth fighting for. From builders to health professionals, researchers to office workers, we re all striving to win the fight against prostate cancer. We re looking forward to working with you as you raise awareness, support men and raise money. We ve put together this handbook to give you an idea of the things you can do to help, what you can expect as a volunteer and what we expect of you. And we ll provide you with the resources you need to help you make the most of your time with us. Thank you, Owen Sharp Chief Executive, Prostate Cancer UK
Volunteering There are so many ways you can get involved, from activities and events to getting out into your community and spreading the word. Everything you do will make a difference and make our goal of winning the fight against prostate cancer closer than ever. Just a few things you could do include: Supporting our work Supporting us at events up and down the country, sharing your views and becoming members of groups and panels helping us provide services for men. Raising awareness Handing out information leaflets, campaigning for better health care in your local community, hosting information stands, giving talks and sharing your story to inspire others. Raising money Holding bucket collections, contacting local businesses, hosting events or even taking on one of our fundraising challenges. To find out more about the different ways you can get involved or to see what s available near you, visit our website prostatecanceruk.org/get-involved or give us a call on 020 3310 7210. I can do much more than I ever thought possible. I have a voice and it can be heard. Together we can make a difference. I have met large numbers of very interesting people and been to places and events I wouldn t have had the opportunity to go to normally.
Be inspired by other volunteers I get a great deal of enjoyment from the variety of activities I ve attended and I ve met lots of interesting people, whilst, hopefully, doing something worthwhile. Lots of our Men United members do something great together to help us beat prostate cancer. Susan Childs has been volunteering with us since 2012. Here she explains why she enjoys being part of our movement for men. My dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2004. It came as a massive shock to both him and us, his family. We didn t know anything about prostate cancer, and sadly he passed away in 2012. Volunteering for Prostate Cancer UK gave me the chance to turn something so devastating into something more positive and kept me focused during my darkest days. After a nervous start I have been to Parliament and the Conservative party conference, cheered on runners and handed out medals for Movember. I have also organised and hosted an information stand at the Royal British Pigeon Show in Blackpool. We spoke to and handed out information to hundreds of men. I felt fantastic afterwards, it was so rewarding. I had a great sense of achievement. I have now decided that I am ready to give talks about prostate cancer, and I will be training for this soon. Volunteering has given me so much confidence, a sense of wellbeing, fun and experiences that I never dreamt I would have. When I look back over the last 18 months, I can t believe what I have achieved and it is all down to volunteering for Prostate Cancer UK.
Volunteering can be a hugely rewarding experience and you can make a real difference to the lives of everyone affected by prostate cancer throughout the UK. Our commitment to our volunteers We will: Match the needs of the organisation with the skills, knowledge, experience and motivation of each volunteer. Provide volunteers with a clear written description of their role and responsibilities. Ensure roles are meaningful and appropriate, allowing volunteers to contribute effectively to our goals. Provide appropriate training and support. Celebrate success and recognise commitment. Provide timely and accurate information about organisational policies and procedures. Foster a friendly and supportive atmosphere and make volunteering a positive experience. Try to resolve any complaints or grievances fairly. Give every volunteer access to a member of staff, to provide advice and guidance. Ensure the health, safety and welfare of all volunteers. Our expectations of our volunteers We ask volunteers to: Maintain and uphold the good name and reputation of Prostate Cancer UK. Treat other volunteers, clients, supporters and staff fairly, equally and with respect. Undertake their role to the best of their ability and aim for high quality in all contributions. Be reliable and engaged in their role, and provide as much notice as possible if they are unable to fulfill their volunteering responsibilities or no longer wish to volunteer. Encourage two way communication with other volunteers and members of staff. Keep confidential information about volunteers, clients, staff and the organisation private. Adhere to organisational aims, objectives, policies and procedures including equality and diversity. Take reasonable care of their own health and safety, as well as the health and safety of those they come into contact with whilst volunteering. I now know so much more about prostate cancer. I have met some amazing volunteers and some dedicated professionals who work for Prostate Cancer UK.
Getting started! You may have already signed up to take part in an activity, in which case, congratulations! You re already taking the first step to making a huge difference to men with prostate cancer and their families. Information about this will have been sent to you with this pack. If you haven t decided what you want to do yet, or if you re interested in doing more than one thing then don t worry, there are lots of things you can do straight away. Don t be put off if you do not get a huge number of opportunities initially. It may take time and this may be frustrating, but there are opportunities which will become available. Raise awareness If you know of a local organisation, event or business which you think needs to know about prostate cancer, or might welcome a talk or information stand, please contact our awareness team and help get the ball rolling at talks@prostatecanceruk.org Raise money You could hold a bucket collection or ask local businesses if you can put a collection tin near their till, as a simple way to raise money remember if you give out collection tins you need to go back and collect the money once they re full. You can order collection tins or buckets from our website prostatecanceruk.org/fundraising Hold your own event, such as a coffee morning, football tournament or golf day involve your local community and raise money and awareness at the same time. We have a dedicated fundraising team who can provide support and advice for your event. Contact them at supportercare@prostatecanceruk.org or on 0800 082 1616. We rely on money raised by supporters like you to fund our lifesaving research, provide services and campaign on behalf of men and their families and friends affected by prostate cancer. Getting involved We have a list of one-off and long-term opportunities at prostatecanceruk.org/opportunities We ll also keep in touch with you to let you know about the latest news, activities and ways you can get involved. The more men we make aware of prostate cancer, its signs, symptoms, risk factors and the ways they can get help, the more men we will save from this terrible disease. You can also order posters and leaflets from our website, and give them out in your community to help raise awareness. Visit prostatecanceruk.org/information to order items for free.
Get involved, self generate locally, enjoy it! Enthusiasm is always contagious.
Working with us As a volunteer, you ll be representing us in everything you choose to do, which is why it s so important that you understand and follow our working principles. We want everyone to have the same experience of Prostate Cancer UK regardless of who they speak to. Our identity We want people to be able to recognise us and what we do. We want them to understand how we help those affected by prostate cancer so that more people will know we re here if they need us. Our identity, or brand, is a big part of this. To make sure we are as recognisable as possible it is important that all of our services, events, publications and the people representing us reflect our brand and image. As a volunteer please think about the principles here while volunteering to ensure you re acting in a way which reflects the charity. We also ask that you wear one of our charity t-shirts, or pin badges at events, so that people know you are part of our team. This will be provided to you. Remember that everything you do directly or indirectly supports fellow patients.
Working principles We ve developed five points to help everyone understand how we like to work, so that no matter who represents us, we always give the same impression. These five points will give you a good idea of how we talk about what we do and what we re trying to achieve. #1 Be direct and conversational Be academic or formal only when it is really necessary. Write and speak plainly using conversational terms. #2 Be honest and unembarrassed Don t let unnecessary politeness stop important things being said. Be honest when we don t know all the answers, and use straightforward language and everyday words for difficult or embarrassing things. #3 Be responsive and supportive Look for ways to understand and support, don t turn away even if you have a disagreement, instead look for solutions. Listen to those affected by prostate cancer and what they want us from us. #4 Be bold and energetic Don t be afraid of risk. Challenge the status quo. Try something new. Using powerful words/verbs to reflect how men speak and to show our emotion and humanity. #5 Be flexible and collaborative Different situations need different approaches. We are all experts in different fields respect, trust and use everyone s expertise. Make your point but look for common ground. Find respectful and tactful ways to disagree.
Support Wherever you live in the UK you will have a dedicated Volunteer Support Officer (VSO). Your VSO is your main contact at the charity. All of our VSOs are dedicated to making sure you get the most out of being in our team. They have a wealth of experience in supporting volunteers and can offer you training, support and guidance as well as answering any questions you may have. Your VSO s contact details can be found at prostatecanceruk.org/volunteerresources If you would find it helpful you can write their details here: VSO name: VSO email: VSO phone number: I have made new friends and I have gained new skills. It has helped me to gain confidence and move forward after my bereavement. Training and development We are proud to offer bespoke training courses, mentoring and shadowing opportunities to support you, develop your skills, learn from each other and achieve your goals. Training could be face-to-face, over the phone or via email or distance learning depending on what you need. Your VSO can offer additional support such as buddying up with a more experienced volunteer should you want or need it. Online community We also have an online community which many of our volunteers use to get an answer to a question, hear from others who have done similar roles or connect with other people in their area. To join the forum please visit prostatecanceruk.org/online-community Once you have registered, please send your VSO an email with your username so they can add you to the volunteer section of the forum.
Resources We have a full list of resources on our website. Here you will find everything you will need as a volunteer, including: All of our policy documents including: Volunteer policy Support and supervision policy Volunteer expenses policy Volunteer recruitment and selection policy Problem solving policy and code of conduct Volunteer training and development policy. Contact information Contact details of key people in the charity can be found in the contact details document available on the resources page of our website, prostatecanceruk.org/volunteerresources Relevant forms including: Expenses forms BACS details form Application forms for roles we are currently recruiting. There are other resources to help you generate your own opportunities and to support you on your journey as a volunteer. Visit prostatecanceruk.org/volunteerresources to see all the resources available. To try and protect our environment, we would encourage you to access the resources online where possible, however if you don t have access to the internet of if you would prefer printed versions of any of the guides please contact your VSO. Communicate with other volunteers by attending as many meetings and workshops as you can. You learn a lot from others experiences.
THANK YOU Many of our events, services and activities would not have the same impact without your support. Speaking to a volunteer with a similar experience gave me peace of mind and confidence that my situation was going to improve. On the bad days, I reflect back on what the volunteer said and it helps me to deal with it. I would recommend the service, without a doubt. One-to-one service user I completed the BUPA 10K in London, thanks to the Prostate Cancer UK cheerleaders! They motivated me so much because I was losing the will to live at one point...thank you, thank you, thank you. Gail Cotton Men United. Keeping friendships alive. Prostate Cancer UK is a registered charity in England and Wales (1005541) and in Scotland (SC039332). Registered company number 2653887. 3067