What is GivingTime?
GivingTime is a coaching and volunteering charity that provides free coaching to students in return for volunteering hours.
Who does GivingTime work with?
- Schools / Education Providers
GivingTime partners with non-selective state secondary schools in the UK. We work closely with the school and share responsibilities in delivering the programme. Throughout the programme, the school retains primary responsibility for the students under its care. The school has full visibility on student applications, coaching engagements and volunteering activity via the GivingTime online portal.
- Students
GivingTime works with students (aged 14-24 years old) in full time education, from all walks of life, faiths and backgrounds. GivingTime does not provide coaching sessions for students who are vulnerable, abused or suffering from a pre-diagnosed mental illness. Students are invited to apply to the GivingTime programme of their own accord.
- Coaches
GivingTime Coaches are all professionals who have received coach training from accredited and recognised coach training programmes. All coaches have a minimum of 10 hours one-to-one coaching experience and receive regular supervision as part of the GivingTime programme.
All GivingTime coaches are volunteers and are subject to a defined recruitment and induction process. As part of our safeguarding procedures, all GivingTime coaches must have an enhanced DBS certificate and are provided with relevant safeguarding training prior to their first coaching engagement.
How many students can have coaching?
There is no limit to the number of students who receive coaching, as long as there are sufficient coaches available and the school is able to check-in with students to remind them of the volunteering commitment and see how the coaching is going.
How do you select students?
GivingTime works with students (aged 14-24 years old) in full time education, from all walks of life, faiths and backgrounds. Students are invited to apply to the GivingTime programme of their own accord.
The school and a GivingTime representative will present the GivingTime programme at assembly or a year group meeting. Interested and motivated students create their volunteering plan and complete their own application on the GivingTime platform.
GivingTime does not provide coaching sessions for students who are vulnerable, abused or suffering from a pre-diagnosed mental illness.
What is coaching?
- In coaching, the student is the expert in their life and the coach supports them to find their own answers, so that the student takes responsibility and action.
- The coach supports the student to set their own goals and design the steps to reach them.
- Coaching is confidential, non-judgmental (no treatment or therapy is given), and based on mutual trust and respect.
- Coaching is not the same as mentoring, where the mentor shares the benefit of their experience and provides guidance. The coach will not give the student answers or direct them.
What does GivingTime Coaching Cost?
The GivingTime programme is free of charge.
Time is our currency. The students ‘pre-pay’ for the coaching by volunteering their time to another cause or community project. Coaches volunteer their time to coach the students, and all the GivingTime administrators, partners and trustees volunteer their time to offer the GivingTime programme free of charge.
Where does GivingTime coaching take place?
GivingTime coaching takes place online through a mutually agreed video platform such as Zoom or Teams. All coaching sessions are arranged between the coach and student on the GivingTime platform.
What measures do you take to safeguard the students?
All coaches have DBS checks before they can work with under 18s. In addition, safeguarding training is provided as part of the mandatory coaches induction. GivingTime has a designated safeguarding officer, and a documented safeguarding incident reporting procedure. Safeguarding guidance and behaviour expectations are included in all parties mandatory induction agreements. The GivingTime safeguarding policy can be viewed here.
Which other organisations do you work with?
GivingTime works with various partner organisations including charities which can help with providing volunteering opportunities. Our legal partner is Travers Smith.
What happens if something goes wrong during the coaching?
If the student feels uncomfortable with anything then they should contact their teacher or school contact who will complete an incident report and liaise with GivingTime.
Coaches are provided with a working handbook, and must report all incident’s of concern to GivingTime.
How can I become a GivingTime Coach?
Contact us and we can talk you through the joining process. You will be asked to complete an online profile, attend a ‘joining session’ and do an observed coaching demonstration. Once you’ve read and agreed the induction documents, we’ll put you in touch with a school to complete your DBS checks. Then you’re all set to coach!
How do you select Coaches?
Coaches are selected on the basis of coaching competence, their motive for volunteering their time to coach young people and what they hope to gain from the experience.
Can I use GivingTime coaching hours for my accreditation log?
As the students are volunteering in return for being coached, GivingTime believes that the coaching hours can be classified as “paid hours” for accreditation purposes. The ultimate decision will lie with the individual accrediting bodies.
Who supervises the Coaches?
Coach supervisors are experienced coaches who have received additional training to lead supervision sessions. Coach supervision sessions take place twice per year and all GivingTime coaches must attend. GivingTime supervisors provide these sessions free of charge.
Who do I contact if I have technical issues?
Use our Contact page