Library Volunteer Training and Support

Welcome to the library volunteer training page, where you will find all our mandatory training resources. Please watch the videos and read the documents before attending a face-to-face training session.

Volunteering should be something that benefits you in a positive way.  We are here to support you in whatever way we can.  Please read our Volunteer Health & Well-Being statement (link in Supporting Documents section) and see the list of external links which may be of use to you.

The following videos must be watched before attending a face-to-face training session. If you require the information in a different format, please let the volunteer team know.

Data protection

This video aims to give all our volunteers an introduction to their legal data protection responsibilities with North Somerset Council. We will follow up this video at face-to-face training sessions.

Equality

This video aims to give all our volunteers an understanding of their equality and diversity responsibilities when volunteering for North Somerset Council. We will follow up this video at face-to-face training sessions.

Safeguarding

This video aims to give all our volunteers an introduction to their safeguarding responsibilities with North Somerset Council. We will follow up this video at face-to-face training sessions.

Manual handling

This video aims to give all our volunteers an introduction to safe manual handling techniques.

Autism friendly libraries

This video aims to make library staff and volunteers more autism aware and provides some top tips for improving the library experience for autistic customers and their families.

Dementia Friends

This series of short videos provides advice on assisting people living with dementia and memory loss. To access the training videos you will need to take the following steps:

• fill in a short form
• provide the organisation code NSLib123
• enter 1 into the number of people watching if it is your first time viewing the video. If you are re-watching the video, please enter 0 so you are not counted twice
• use your library's postcode, which can be found in the email sent to you by the volunteering team

To access these videos, please visit the video section of the Dementia Friends website.

Here are copies of all our key volunteer documents. We will look at these in more depth at our face-to-face training sessions. If you require the information in a different format, please let the volunteer team know.

Volunteer Handbook

Volunteer Agreement 

Expense and Mileage Form 

BACS Request Form 

Equalities Monitoring Form 

Volunteer Evaluation Form 

Volunteer Complaints Policy

Volunteer Health and Well Being Statement 

This is non-essential training that will help you to provide further support.

Sighted guiding training

Guide Dogs UK have created instructional videos that will support you in guiding someone with sight loss. You can watch these videos on the Guide Dogs UK website.

Mental health

NHS Mental Health Website - a range of information on different conditions, symptoms and behaviours, as well as advice, self-help and links to mental health services.

Alzheimer’s Society website - advice and support for those living with Alzheimer’s, dementia or memory loss and their friends, family and carers.

MIND website - Working throughout England and Wales to make mental health on everyday priority and offering help whenever it is needed through information, advice and local services.

The Samaritans website – support for whatever you are facing, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Rethink Mental Illness website – challenge attitudes to help people affected by mental illness.  Provide expert advice and information to everyone affected by mental health problems, from treatment and care, to benefits and employment rights.

Physical health

NHS website – a range of information on healthy living, including healthy living, diet, weight and exercise.

Better Health North Somerset website - a public health service funded by North Somerset Council, to support the health and wellbeing of local residents. 

Healthy Lifestyle Service website - the team of Healthy Lifestyle Advisors can help you make changes to your health and wellbeing.  They provide tailored guidance and support to help people become healthier and the service is free to all over the age of 18.

Macmillan Cancer Support website - support for people living with cancer and their families.