How do I apply to become a peer advisor?

The application form and interview is a two-way process. It enables YouthNet to find out more about you, to ensure that you are suitable for the role, but it also allows you to ensure that the volunteering opportunity meets your needs and interests. The interview is conducted before you begin training and usually done over the phone. However, we are happy to do this face-to-face if you prefer.

Are there certain skills I need to be a peer advisor?

We are not expecting volunteers to have particular qualifications, although you will need to be confident in your ability to express yourself through the written word and use the internet. You will be able to empathise with, analyse and respond to the concerns and issues of others.

What is online volunteering?

Online or virtual volunteering refers to volunteer tasks completed, in whole or in part, via the internet from a location outside of YouthNet UK’s main office. This could be from your own home or perhaps even your place of work or study. Volunteering from a home or work computer is different from working on-site with an organization for many obvious reasons: there's more flexibility in the use of the time you have; a greater degree of independence; you interact less face-to-face with members of staff; etc. For you, these differences may make virtual volunteering ideal; but these same reasons could also make it difficult for you.

Setting your own schedule is one of the chief joys of virtual volunteering. However, there's nothing virtual about the commitment you are making, nor the deadlines you will be assigned with to complete the work you agree to doing.

What will I get out of volunteering with askTheSite?

Volunteering as an online peer advisor is a great way to get experience in providing online advice and learn about the issues facing young people today. We are happy to give you references if you are applying for paid work; in many cases voluntary work can give job applications an important added dimension. Your voluntary work as a peer advisor could lead to other volunteering roles in YouthNet such as moderating our discussion boards or contributing as a web journalist.

When can I start? Do you always need volunteers?

In 2008, we will be running training programmes for online peer advisors to begin working on askTheSite at different times: Feb-March, April-May, June-July, September-October and November-December. We will publish the exact dates a couple of months in advance here.

What support will I get as a peer advisor?

We will be supporting you as a volunteer with group training sessions and one-to-one support sessions (over the phone or face-to-face). We also encourage peer advisors to support each other, both online through our online groups and face-to-face at regular social meetings.

How much time do I need to give?

You should expect to commit around 4-5 hours a week to volunteering as an online peer advisor. Obviously, this will be different while you take part in the three day training sessions. As long as you have done the training necessary to reach the standard we require, the amount of time you volunteer is up to you.

When and at what times can I volunteer?

On average during training and once trained, you’ll do around 4-5 hours a week as an online peer advisor.

When and at what times you volunteer as a peer advisor is flexible- that’s the beauty of volunteering online. However, you’ll need to make sure that you can attend the group training sessions which take place over three Saturdays 10am-4pm with each day of training covering a different aspect of peer advising online.

In addition to group training, you will be given three practice questions to work on over a flexible period of time, each at the end of each training session. You also have access to personal support which can take the form of a one to one session at YouthNet or on the phone where we assess your work on the practice questions. 

How long will it take to complete the training as a peer advisor?

It using takes between 1-2 months to complete the initial training period: attending three group sessions, answering three practice questions and attending an assessment meeting at YouthNet. Once you’ve finished training you can start the next step which is answering questions on the live askTheSite with the support of a relationships advisor mentor.

Where will I be volunteering?

As a peer advisor with askTheSite, you will be working online in a location where you can access the internet, such as your home, place of work or study. You will need to be living in Greater London, partly because this is a stipulation of our funders and partly so that you are within easy travelling distance of YouthNet. We are based near Old Street tube station and will expect you to attend the training sessions at our offices. Beyond these limitations, as a fully online project, with askTheSite you get to choose where you volunteer!

In fact, all askTheSite’s content partners work answering questions remotely, many outside London, in places such as Manchester, Sheffield, Norfolk and even New York.

Will I get my expenses paid?

askTheSite will pay for your travel expenses to and from your home in London and YouthNet’s main office near Old Street tube station, when you take part in training or come in for one-to-one support sessions. Internet connection expenses will also be reimbursed. If you have a monthly subscription, we will reimburse a proportion of this based approximately on the time you volunteer.

Are childcare costs covered?

We are committed to equal opportunities and will support people with children in their volunteering as far as funding allows. If this is an issue let us know when you apply and we will do our best to cater to your needs.
 

What are one-to-one support sessions?

One to one sessions are an additional form of support open to you as an online peer advisor. You can do this face to face at YouthNet or over the phone. You will to do at least one of these, when we carry out an assessment of your work in training and your readiness to start answering questions on the live askTheSite system.

Are there any restrictions on who can volunteer as a peer advisor?

You need to be 18-29 years old and from a Greater London borough.

Our recruitment policy is to prioritise volunteers who are 18-29 years old as we looking to involve peer advisors who are close in age to askTheSite's target user group (16-25 year olds). If you are just outside this age group (under 35), we're happy to accept your application although we'll confirm your place only once we know that extra spaces are available.

If you are based just outside London, but are happy to travel in, please contact us to find out whether we can cover some or all of your travel expenses. If you are unable to travel to London or cannot make training on Saturdays, it is now possible to follow the training programme online. However, this is still in the early stages of development and may not suit your requirements. If you'd like more information about this, please contact us to discuss your situation.

I work full time, can I still volunteer?

Peer advisors will be carrying out their online working flexibly. However, you will need to take part in the three training sessions, which are held on Saturdays.

For which students is peer advising most appropriate?

Students who are studying communications, media, social work, youth work or psychology to name but a few, will find the work of askTheSite particular interesting.

Will volunteering as a peer advisor affect Jobseekers' Allowance?

If you are receiving certain state benefits you might have a responsibility to inform the relevant agency before you start volunteering. Volunteering with askTheSite will not affect Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) provided you:

•    Take reasonable steps to find a job (e.g. answering advertisements, signing up with an agency, and taking other steps required by the Job Centre)
•    Can be available for work for 40 hours each week
•    Inform the benefits agency that you are volunteering
•    Can take up work or attend a job interview within 48 hours.

We can help you by providing a standard letter for your benefits agency stating that you:

•    Don't get paid, only get reimbursed actual out-of-pocket expenses
•    Can be contacted whilst volunteering if a job opportunity becomes available
•    Can be available at a certain period of notice to start work or attend an interview (must be less than 48 hours).
•    Volunteers receiving Income Support due to unemployment follow the same rules as Job Seekers Allowance.

Will volunteering for askTheSite affect other benefits?

You should notify the relevant agency before starting at askTheSite if you receive Incapacity Benefit, Severe Disablement Allowance, Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit or Invalid Care Allowance (ICA). ICA is not affected by volunteering unless it prevents you providing care for at least 35 hours each week. There is no limit on the numbers of hours you can volunteer whilst in receipt of Incapacity Benefit, though in the past some benefits agencies have claimed that volunteers who volunteer regularly and for a substantial (in their view) amount of time could be seen as fit for work.

askTheSite can help by providing a letter for you confirming the number of hours, that these hours are unpaid and that volunteering is far more flexible and cannot be regarded as the same as paid work. There are some benefits that are not affected by volunteering and where the relevant agencies do not need to be informed that you are volunteering. These include: State Retirement Pension, Council Tax benefit, Housing Benefit, Statutory Maternity pay, Maternity Allowance, War Widow's Pension and Widow's Pension.