About us
To establish foreign missionary schools for the instruction of underserved and disadvantaged children in developing nations and to provide charitable resources to assist and support said children and their local communities.
The International Mission for Children endeavors to help children by offering them religious and secular education, in the pursuit of knowledge, to realize their God-given potential and in the spirit of charity, share the Gospel values with others. The IMC was Incorporated in October of 2015 and received their 501 (c) (3) IRS Tax Exempt Status Determination Letter in October of 2015. We are officially an International Development, Relief Service Public Charity.
Purpose of our volunteer policy
Our volunteer policy has been created to show our volunteers and potential volunteers that we have spent time and care in planning how volunteers will be welcomed at International Mission for Children. It also outlines that all volunteers will be treated in a fair and consistent way. It should also help our volunteers understand what support is available to them and what they can expect from us.
Our vision and mission for volunteering
Volunteering is a great way to share your enthusiasm, skills and ideas whilst having fun and meeting like-minded people. By volunteering for International Mission for Children you will be making a positive contribution to community development in our area. Volunteers are vital to our work.
Attracting volunteers and volunteer agreement
We have a range of opportunities for volunteers to get involved in. A small list would include website content design and content manager, marketing and graphic design, facebook content management, fund development participation; this list is not inclusive. "On our website you can read through our volunteer role profiles. All you need to do then is to complete our very short Volunteer Registration Form. Alternatively, you can come along in person and inquire about becoming a volunteer."
Once we receive a copy of your completed registration form, a member of our team will get in touch with more information on specific opportunities and we can decide together which option best matches your interests and time availability and also our needs. Your help will be greatly appreciated and really will make a difference.
Access Ni Checks
Some volunteer roles will require an Access Ni check to inform International Mission for Children of any criminal convictions that a person wishing to volunteer may have. For example, any volunteer position which involves regulated activity with children or vulnerable adults will be subject to an Access Ni check.
Induction and training
It does not matter how much you already know, as there will be opportunities to learn, and we have roles to suit every level of expertise.
There will be an induction prepared and delivered by one of our staff. This will include:
- Some information about International Mission for Children, our vision, mission and our future plans;
- the role of the volunteer;
- introduction to some volunteers;
- tour around our facilities and see some of our initiatives;
- copy of all the relevant policies including this volunteer policy and also our Health and Safety, Expenses, Equality and Diversity and Conflict Management;
- essential procedures such as timekeeping, rota;
- information about training and ongoing learning opportunities
There will be a trial period of four weeks to give International Mission for Children and you time to discover if you are suited to each other. A review will be made midway through the trial period and also at the end. This is not an assessment, it is just so that we can be sure that you benefit the most from the volunteering experience and maximise the time you are giving freely.
Support
Our members will offer support to you. They will remain your key contact throughout your volunteering with us. This will include regular meetings with you to discuss how you are getting on, discuss any training needs and deal with issues arising. This will also ensure that International Mission for Children is doing all we can to make your volunteering experience an enjoyable and meaningful one.
Recognition and reward
We could not do the work we do without our volunteers. To acknowledge this we will always say thank you and show appreciation for a job well done. There will always be a listening ear or shoulder to lean on.
We will hold social events each year to celebrate our achievements; this might be a certificate presentation for volunteers or a celebration at Christmas. During these events you will get an opportunity to meet other volunteers and supporters of our work and share in our plans for the future.
We will take opportunities in our website and Facebook page, annual general meetings, and local and national press to praise the achievements of our volunteers.
Expenses
We value our volunteers and want to ensure that there are no barriers to volunteer involvement. All reasonable out of pocket expenses, if required, will be reimbursed including expenses for travel and meals (if working more than 4.5 hours in one session). In order to claim expenses, an Expenses Form must be completed, a valid receipt provided and this should be submitted at the regular monthly meeting to the treasurer to record in the minutes and approval.
Insurance, health and safety, accidents and risk assessment
International Mission for Children has a valid insurance policy so that volunteers are covered by public liability insurance, which you are advised to read. It covers the volunteering activities you will be doing. We will keep reminding you of our Health and Safety Policy and give simple instructions on how to perform each task safely. We have clear procedures for accidents and emergencies and will always have a first aider on field sites..
Resolving problems
We hope that you will have a very enjoyable experience volunteering with us. However if your role as a volunteer does not meet with your expectations or with the commitments we have made to you, we want you to feel comfortable about letting us know. First of all, talk to the person who leads the team where you volunteer and he or she should be able to sort it out with you before it becomes a problem. If you do not feel this will resolve things you can speak to the Volunteer co-ordinator.
Confidentiality
We expect all volunteers to adhere to confidentiality guidelines which will be explained to you before you begin volunteering with us and this also includes use of social media and contact with any press.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
International Mission for Children is committed to embracing diversity and promoting equality and inclusion. When representing International Mission for Children as a volunteer we expect you to support our commitment to promoting equality.
Volunteering whilst on benefit
You can still volunteer with us if you are receiving benefits provided that we follow the legal guidelines. We have information from the Jobs and Benefits Department which we can talk through with you regarding the hours you can do and what you can claim for expenses incurred through volunteering.