Thank you for your interest in the volunteering opportunities that have been made available at BBC Radio Northampton thanks to a partnership with the national charity CSV Media and funding from the European Social Fund.

This pack will give you details about the partnership. Once you have read the enclosed information we hope you will want to become a CSV Media Volunteer and complete the enclosed application form.

Upon receipt of your application you will be invited to an informal meeting with the CSV Media Action Producer for BBC Radio Northampton who will talk through the role of volunteers and discuss your reasons for wanting to get involved in the Service. After that meeting a letter will be sent to you to confirm whether you have been selected to join our team of volunteers.

We look forward to hearing from you.

BBC Radio Northampton and CSV Media

GUIDANCE NOTES CSV MEDIA ACTION DESK VOLUNTEERS

What is CSV Media? CSV Media is part of the national charity, Community Service Volunteers, which has established a UK wide network of partnerships with BBC Local Radio to provide social action broadcasting and support services designed to get people actively involved in their local communities.

How does CSV Media work with BBC Radio Northampton? CSV Media has recruited a Producer for each BBC Local Radio Station in the Country. At BBC Radio Northampton the Producer works with the station’s already successful Action Team.

What is Action? Action provides a response/helpline service for listeners, charities, community and voluntary groups in the county. Those requests are then broadcast on BBC Radio Northampton throughout the day and together with our listeners we can help those individuals and organisations find the answers and help for a whole range of questions and queries.

What else does the Action Producer do? As well as working with the Action Team, the Action Producer runs campaigns and appeals which identify local community involvement, health, education and welfare issues, which in turn, can inspire and motivate people to take action or volunteer to improve the quality of their own lives and the communities they live in. The Producer is also responsible for recruiting and training volunteers to support the Action Team.

Why do you need volunteers? The role of CSV Media Volunteers will be to support the Team and Producer so the service can be extended throughout the day.

Where will the CSV Media Action Volunteers work? You will work at BBC Radio Northampton’s offices at Broadcasting House Abington St. in Northampton. From time to time you might be asked if you would like to help at events and take part in meetings in other parts of the county.

Who will I work with? Initially you will be working closely with the CSV Media Action Producer who will oversee your introduction to the radio station and look after your training needs. Once you are familiar with the procedures and systems you will start to shadow and then work within the station and its staff made up of BBC members of staff including, Broadcast Assistants, Producers, Presenters and Journalists.

What will a CSV Media Action Volunteer do? You could be asked to carry out a range of tasks including: answering the Action telephones; researching the answers to questions which come in through the Action line; researching and setting up interviews; maintaining databases; general administration duties.... and making the tea! You might even be asked to conduct interviews and record bulletins for broadcast on air. The radio station is involved in a large number of promotional and fund raising events that are held at weekends and in the evenings. From time to time you might be asked if you would like to help with those events. Tasks could include setting up stands, selling raffle tickets and programmes and serving refreshments.

What training will I receive?

You will receive all the support you need to use the equipment relevant to your volunteer placement. This will include training on telephone systems, computers and broadcast equipment. You will also receive training and information on Health and Safety issues.

How often do CSV Media Action Volunteers work?

The Producer will agree with you the number of hours you are willing to work and which days you can work. In addition to your regular volunteering times, you might be asked to volunteer for additional hours at the radio station’s charity and promotional events.

If I did become a CSV Media Action Volunteer, what would I get out of it?

As a Volunteer you won’t gain any formal qualifications but you will learn new skills, especially if you’ve never worked in radio before. You will get to see behind the scenes and find out how BBC Local Radio works. There will be opportunities to find out more about what is going on in your local community, talk to listeners about their needs and get involved in a range of events. If you are looking to become the best Disc Jockey Local Radio has ever heard - then a CSV Media Action Volunteer role is probably not for you, but if are willing to learn, work as part of a team have an interest in BBC Local Radio then you could find being a CSV Media Action Volunteer very rewarding.

I would like to find out more, what do I do now?

Complete the enclosed application form and send it to The BBC Radio Northampton Action Producer at BBC Radio Northampton, Broadcasting House Abington St, Northampton NN1 2BH. Remember, the form is not a job application, if just helps us to know who you are and where we can get hold of you. When we receive the form and have registered your interested we will invite you to come in and have an informal chat with our Action Producer to decide whether becoming a CSV Media Volunteer is right for you and for us.

APPLICATION FORM (CONFIDENTIAL)

SURNAME: FORENAMES: TITLE:

ADDRESS:

postcode:

TELEPHONE: home: mobile:

DATE OF BIRTH:

DRIVING LICENCE: yes/no

Please give the Name: Name: name and address of two people who could provide references about Address: Address: you and the kind of person you are.

Please also tell us what their relationship is to you i.e. employer, colleague, friend of the family etc.

References will be Relationship to you: Relationship to you: obtained prior to you being offered a volunteer placement with us.

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF

Please give a BRIEF history about yourself including details of hobbies, voluntary/ community work or employment. Feel free to write bullet points if you would prefer.

Please tell us why you would like to become a CSV Media Volunteer at BBC Radio Northampton.

If you were offered Hours available to volunteer? a volunteer placement with us, Days available to volunteer? (Please tick) how often would you be able to Monday am □ pm □ come into the radio Tuesday am pm station and how □ □ many hours would Wednesday am □ pm □ you be able to work. Thursday am □ pm □

Friday am □ pm □ Weekends am □ pm □

Signed ...... Dated......

Thank you for completing this application. Please send it to: The CSV Media Action Desk Producer, BBC Radio Northampton, Broadcasting House, Abington St., Northampton. NN1 2BH EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES MONITORING

This information will be treated in the strictest confidence and will be used only for statistical monitoring. It is not part of the selection process and will be separated from the application.

The BBC and CSV Media are committed to equal opportunities for all, irrespective of race, colour, creed, ethnic or national origins, gender, marital status, sexuality, disability or age.

So that we can monitor the implementation of our policy we are seeking your help. It would be of great assistance in pursuing our commitment to equal opportunities if you would complete this monitoring form. Please return it with you completed Volunteer Application Form. Male Female

Asian / Asian British

Black / Black British

Middle / Near Eastern

Mixed Ethnic Group

White

Black Other

Other

(please specify below)

Age band: (please tick appropriate band) 18 – 24 25 – 29 30 – 34

35 – 39 40 – 44 45 – 49

50 – 54 55 – 59 60+

Disability (please tick one as appropriate) Do you consider yourself to have a disability? Yes No

If yes, which of the following descriptions best describes your disability? Visual (NOT including wearing glasses or contact lenses)

Co-ordination, dexterity or mobility

Mental health

Speech

Learning difficulties

Hearing

Combination of above or other physical or medical conditions - please specify below