Volunteering Policy
This policy comprises general terms and conditions for volunteering and specific guidance on litter picking.
1. General Terms and Conditions
1. Nature of Agreement. This is not a legally binding contract between Friends of Clapham Common (the Charity) and the volunteer, and that neither intends any employment or other worker relationship to be created.
2. Responsibilities. Volunteers may be engaged to help with activities that support the maintenance and improvement of Clapham Common, such as watering, mulching, planting and litter picking. This list is not exhaustive. Volunteers may be engaged to provide help for campaigns and events organised by the Charity. All volunteering activities will be coordinated by a trustee of the Charity and communication will be managed through established media such as newsletters or WhatsApp FCC volunteer chat groups.
3. Confidentiality. The volunteer may not use or disclose any confidential information they have access to either whilst volunteering, or afterwards.
4. Payment. The Charity does not remunerate for volunteering activities but will reimburse expenses incurred at the specific request of the activity coordinator, such as purchase of equipment or consumables. All such expenditure must be supported by receipts.
5. Copyright. Should a volunteer write articles, take photographs or produce any other material related to the Charity, the volunteer will need to sign an assignment of intellectual property rights to ensure that the Charity retains ownership of the material produced.
6. Data Protection. Volunteers should familiarise themselves with the Charity’s Data Protection Policy to understand how personal data, including sensitive personal data, is processed and, if they will be processing sensitive data of others, to ensure compliance with the Charity’s data protection procedures.
7. Safety & Support - Volunteers must identify who will be their point of contact, if they need help, or have a problem, particularly relating to safety issues. Volunteers should be aware of safe conduct with tools and equipment and wear clothing that is appropriate for the volunteering activity e.g. protective clothing, gloves, boots and Hi Viz jackets as directed by the activity leader.
8. Code of Conduct. The Charity embraces diversity and inclusion as set out in its Ethics, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) policy and expects all volunteers to respect the Charity’s policies, values, and guidelines as set out in the EDI policy.
9. Learning and Development. Where appropriate, volunteers will be provided with training to improve the effectiveness of the activities and will be guided by the Charity’s safeguarding policy.
2. Guidance For Volunteer Litter Pickers
This short guide aims to help volunteers keep themselves and others safe during a litter pick event. Volunteers have a duty towards themselves, to fellow volunteers and the public to work safely.
If there is any doubt about the safety of a site or material, then it should be avoided.
Group litter pick events will be organised and led by a trustee of the Charity and supported by team members. These charity representatives will make themselves known to volunteers and be identified by wearing FCC branded Hi Vis jackets.
The Charity will provide gloves, litter pickers and receptacles for collecting litter such as binbags in hoops or buckets. Hi Vis vests will also be issued, if required, to volunteers other than charity representatives. A first aid kit will be kept at the meeting point.
If a volunteer encounters any problem, they should report it straight away to the team member at the meeting point.
General Safety Rules
It is important to minimise any hazards when collecting rubbish:
Always wear gloves and suitable clothing and pick litter with a picker.
Needles & syringes, broken glass, drug items, condoms and human waste can be seriously harmful. If you find any of the above or are in doubt as to how to safely dispose of the item, please do not collect but refer the item to a charity representative who will deal with the issue.
If an item of litter cannot be safely reached with a litter picker, leave it.
Be careful when collecting near traffic.
Be careful when collecting near water.
Be mindful of wildlife.
Please wear appropriate clothing:
Enclosed shoes, not sandals
Rubber gloves (available from the Charity)
The event organiser may distribute and direct volunteers to wear Hi Vis vests. Hi Vis vests must be worn by volunteers under 18 years of age who are being supervised by a trustee of the Charity as part of a designated volunteering programme e.g. Duke of Edinburgh scheme.
Hazards :
Noxious and Dangerous Materials: needles & syringes, broken glass, drug items, condom and human waste. Do not attempt to collect but report to a charity representative at the meeting point.
Suspect materials and fly tipping: unknown liquids in containers, building materials, asbestos or fly-tipping should not be moved by volunteers. Instead, note the location, take photographs if possible and report it to a charity representative for specialist removal.
Traffic: always use extreme caution when litter picking near roads. Roadside litter picking should be restricted to only where there are wide verges or pavements, suitable for pedestrians. Always face oncoming traffic.
Water: do not reach over the edge of any of the ponds to pick litter floating or on the edges unless you can stand on a firm bank a reasonable distance from the edge (say 30 cm).
Other hazards:
Do not reach into hedges or undergrowth in such a way as to expose the face, eyes and skin to scratches from thorns or branches.
Do not enter an area, or attempt to litter pick an area, where works impose restrictions, are already taking place (for example road works) or where the public do not have a right to entry.
Manual handling:
Use litter pickers to prevent constant bending and stretching.
Decide if an item can be safely moved either by one or two people.
Only try to move an item if this can be done so without straining. When lifting an item, bend the legs and keep the back straight.