(April 2022)

Volunteers are the bedrock of community action. Each month, Church of England volunteers devote over 23 million hours across the country to community action over and above normal church activities.

Safe working practices are essential, please take the time to read our volunteer policy.

• Any volunteer working in isolation stays at ground level and has a communication device with them. It is recommended that someone has been told that that person is going to be at the church, and a time for when they ought to be finished. Volunteers should not take any risks that could threaten their safety.
• When carrying out team activities, a nominated leader should prepare a list of attendees with contactable phone numbers to be used in case of illness or emergencies.
• Provide refreshment breaks
• Be prepared for all extreme weather, given the location heat and sun exposure including sunstroke is an important concern.
• When providing tools and equipment, ensure proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is also suitably issued, along with adequate training. Volunteers should be reminded on the safe carriage and handling of tools. For insurance purposes handling specialised power tools should be for professionals only, unless you are a trained volunteer with personal accident and professional liability insurance. All new volunteers should be given a demonstration of safe tool handling especially loppers etc and reminded of the dangers present in the churchyard environment
• It should be considered best practice that one or two members of the group issue and collect all tools, suitably cleaned. Broken or worn tools should be reported. Tools should be stored in a dry, secure, and safe environment, kept out of reach of children or inexperienced persons
• The handling of herbicides and similar products may have to be approved under COSHH regulations and a check of these requirements regularly carried out.
• Volunteers should demonstrate reasonable care, in the form of a risk assessment, such as visual checks and awareness of the hazards before work commences.
• Please record and submit volunteer hours with evidence photographs via the website. This can be used as evidence for grant applications. Do not include photographs of individuals without permission. For children under 18, parental permission should be obtained.
• Please make yourself aware of the location of First Aid kits.
• Tree work that is NOT suitable for volunteers • Use of a chainsaw in a public place such as a burial ground. • Use of any saw when off the ground (when climbing the tree or a ladder). • Removing large limbs which could cause injury to people or damage buildings as they fall. • Felling of entire trees other than seedlings or small saplings. Unless you have a trained volunteer with personal accident and professional liability insurance for tree work then a tree contractor will be needed.