Charities - Volunteer Agreements

Charities are not legally required to issue a volunteer agreement to a volunteer, but the safest course is to use a written agreement signed by the charity and the volunteer. If a charity chooses to use such an agreement, it should be written as a set of guidelines for both parties, not as a legally binding document (see above under “Is an Individual Really a Volunteer”). Some charities might produce such guidelines in the form of a letter rather than an agreement.

The advantage of having a written volunteering agreement is that it clarifies what the charity and the volunteer expect of each other and it minimises the risk that the volunteer will in law be an employee.

You can see our two forms of Charity Volunteer’s Agreement and our Guidance Note: Charity Volunteers under "Related Documents" below.