Your benefits / expenses

Volunteering while unemployed can be hugely beneficial and rewarding and can offer you valuable experience while job seeking.

Bear in mind that your Job Seekers Allowance may be affected if you are unable to show that you are still actively seeking paid employment while volunteering. We don’t wish any of our volunteers to lose any benefits or become worse off financially through volunteering with us and therefore suggest that you contact your Job Centre and the Benefits Office before you start any volunteer work.

There shouldn’t be a problem with the number of hours you choose to volunteer although these agencies may occasionally ask you to have a form signed by your manager to confirm time spent volunteering. If you are in receipt of incapacity benefit please talk to your local Benefits Agency before volunteering.

Trinity Shops actively encourages all volunteers to claim reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses. Claimable expenses normally include return travel by public transport and a £2.50 allowance for lunch when volunteering for more than four hours in one session.