Finance and holidays

The volunteer year is all about living simply, but it also has to be a realisetic experience for each person.

We therefore provide each volunteer withthe following:

Finance:

Each volunteer is given a small personal allowance every week, and a food/household budget that is shared by the community. Travel to and from the work placements is also covered by the Vincentian Volunteer Trust, and this bus pass can also be used for leisure activities.

Volunteers pay their own telephone bills, as well as the house phone. The work placements are asked to make a contribution to the costs of the year, and this is paid directly to the Trust. Volunteers are not allowed to accept money from their work placements or to have any kind of paid employment during the year. Struggling to live within a limited budget which inevitably means limited choices is one of the challenges of being a Vincentian Volunteer.

Holidays:

Each volunteer is given 15 working days holiday in total during the programme, which is taken in agreement with the local co-ordinator and the work placement supervisors. The Bank Holidays which occur during the year are also given as holidays. Some holidays are written into the placement contract eg St Vincent’s School, and the volunteer has to work within these times.

The weekends away used for the retreats are not taken as holiday but as time for training and development.
Volunteers are asked to consult with their companions about holidays so that individuals are not left for long periods on their own. Holidays are meant to be taken! The year can be quite stressful at times and all volunteers need time for rest and relaxation, with each other, and with other friends.

“There is nothing worth the wear of winning than the laughter and love of friends” Hilaire Belloc

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