Before submitting a volunteer application, an applicant should check the role’s tasks and responsibilities, location, hours, and whether references may be needed. NCVO says role descriptions explain a volunteer’s duties and suggests including the location and hours. References are more likely when an opportunity is more regular or longer term and involves higher safeguarding risks, but this is not a blanket requirement for every role.
Which practical details should be checked?
| Detail | What the guidance says | What the applicant must still confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Tasks and responsibilities | Role descriptions explain what the volunteer role involves. | The specific duties expected for that role. |
| Location | NCVO suggests including the location in the role description. | Where the work will actually take place. |
| Hours | NCVO suggests including the hours. | The applicable hours and any schedule details not stated in the listing. |
| References | They are more likely for opportunities that are more regular or longer term and carry higher safeguarding risks. | Whether references are required for the particular role and, if so, how the process works. |
A role title alone may not provide enough information to assess these points. The full description should be read for the duties involved rather than assumptions based on the title.
Why do location and hours matter?
Location and hours determine whether the role is practically workable. An applicant can compare the stated information with travel arrangements and availability before applying. If either detail is missing or unclear, clarification should be obtained from the organisation rather than guessed.
NCVO’s guidance recommends including both details, but that recommendation does not mean every organisation will publish them in the same way or provide the same level of detail.
Should references be expected?
Not automatically. NCVO states that references become more likely where the volunteering opportunity is more regular or longer term and has higher safeguarding risks. This makes the reference question especially relevant to those circumstances, but it does not establish that every long-term or higher-risk role will follow an identical process.
The organisation’s own role information must therefore be checked for the applicable requirement. Applicants who cannot find a clear answer should seek confirmation before submitting the application.
What remains unclear?
Some information may still require direct confirmation, including:
- The exact responsibilities of the role
- The work location
- The hours and any further scheduling details
- Whether references are required
- The applicable reference process
- Accessibility arrangements, if these are important to the applicant
The cited guidance does not guarantee that every listing will answer all these questions. Before applying, the safest approach is to identify any missing practical detail and ask the organisation to clarify it.