RMBF volunteers play a key part in helping the charity meet its strategic objectives to increase awareness of its work to reach more doctors, medical students and their families in times of crisis. They can also offer personal support to our beneficiaries as well as helping to raise funds through community, individual and challenge events.
This is a varied and flexible role, and our volunteers can do some or all of the following activities to support the work of the RMBF:
- Distribute RMBF promotional material
- Support RMBF staff at medical conferences and events across the UK
- Deliver talks and presentations on RMBF services
- Formal and informal networking activities
- Raise our profile online through your own networks/social media
- Individual fundraising/challenge events
- Support community fundraising events
- Provide regular friendly phone support to isolated doctors and medical students
We expect RMBF volunteers to:
- Actively participate in initial and ongoing training activities, networking events and meetings with fellow RMBF volunteers, staff and Trustees
- Undertake at-least four profile raising/networking activities every year
- Inform RMBF of their activities in a bi-annual online survey
- This information will be shared with colleagues and supporters, and helps us evaluate RMBF volunteers’ impact on our public profile
Attributes of a successful RMBF volunteer
RMBF volunteers come from all areas of the medical profession and other care professions. They are based throughout the UK and this diverse mix helps us to get a clear understanding of the pressures facing the medical profession as a whole. However, there are a few personal attributes that RMBF volunteers share which help them succeed in their role. These attributes include:
- Enthusiasm and creativity
- A good network of colleagues
- Knowledge of the RMBF’s services and procedures, so they are able to respond to questions from an audience or individual
- Empathy and understanding of the nature of colleagues’ problems
- An ability to use their own initiative and act on opportunities as and when they occur
- Excellent communication skills
Training and development
All volunteers receive an induction from the Head of Volunteering (HoV) and the Community & Events Fundraising Officer (CEFO) to get a better understanding of how the RMBF operates. It includes sections on confidentiality, data protection and safeguarding. Further training to develop our volunteers’ skills is provided at our Wimbledon HQ, or remotely where necessary, led by the HoV.
Our training programme is under review, but areas covered in previous years have included:
- Presentation skills
- Mental health awareness
- Boundaries
- Bereavement awareness
Ongoing support
RMBF volunteers receive comprehensive support and advice from the HoV to ensure they feel confident in how they can best support the RMBF.
On the afternoon of the RMBF’s AGM there is a Volunteers Meeting where everyone has the opportunity to meet fellow volunteering colleagues, as well as Trustees and staff of the RMBF. There is ample opportunity for views and problems to be shared and discussed.
From time to time the HoV will organise informal regional seminars, where RMBF volunteers will have another chance to meet colleagues and share their experiences.