Penwith Volunteer Bureau is a registered charity, which exists to:

- Promote volunteering of all types at a local level.
- Support and develop the vast range of local volunteering activity.
- Promote links between agencies and organisations who provide services and support to members of the local community.

We aim to:

- Identify and alleviate need.
- Provide practical help and support.
- Initiate and support community projects.
- Promote volunteering opportunities to all sections of the community.

Penwith Volunteer Bureau (PVB) is a local volunteer development agency and is an independent, not-for-profit charity. Penwith Volunteer Bureau works throughout Penwith in a number of ways:

- We enable people to do voluntary work.
- We contact local organisations who involve volunteers and collect information on volunteering opportunities available.
- We work with organisations to develop new volunteering opportunities.
- We offer advice and support to organisations seeking volunteers.
- We develop our own projects in response to local needs.

Penwith Volunteer Bureau, The Penwith Centre, Parade Street, Penzance TR18 4BU.

We are managed by PCDT, an organisation that manages many projects which support the community of West Penwith and beyond. For more information on PCDT, please click here.

PVB takes great care over the selection of volunteers and the same great care over the selection of organisations that will accept volunteers. The Bureau accepts its responsibility for promoting health and safety within the organisation. The Bureau also expects volunteers to remember that their health and safety takes first priority and to act in accordance with this.

PVB sets guidelines and adheres to certain rules concerning what a volunteer can and cannot do. It expects the volunteer to work within these guidelines. Other roles are best served by those people who have been trained accordingly.

The Role of a Volunteer

Volunteers are people who, unpaid and of their own free will, contribute their time, energy and skills to benefit people in the community. Their roles as volunteers may be various according to the types of voluntary work they undertake.

The Penwith Volunteer Bureau Charter:

1. Volunteers should be recruited to perform tasks that match their original motivation to volunteer. They should not be referred to an agency simply because they want to volunteer.

2. Volunteers should not be used to cover roles that are traditionally paid.

3. Volunteers should be referred to organisations only where staff agree to the arrangement and welcome volunteers.

4. Voluntary activity should be distinct from paid employment; it should complement paid work.

5. Volunteers should be dealt with promptly and cheerfully.

6. Volunteers should be reimbursed for all out-of-pocket expenses.