Best practices for supporting volunteers with learning disabilities
We believe volunteering should be for everyone and that includes people with learning disabilities. That is why we have developed a collection of free resources to help organisations make their volunteering opportunities more inclusive, welcoming, and accessible.
Our resources, co-produced with our Creator Volunteers, is aimed at organisations who wish to support their volunteers with learning disabilities. From references and DBS checks, application and interview, and support on the job, we have you covered.
Topics
Myth busting
The idea that people with learning disabilities are unreliable, too time-consuming to support, or unable to manage the induction process is not true.
These myths can come from a lack of understanding. With the right preparation and person-centred support, you can help volunteers with learning disabilities to bring unique strengths, incredible enthusiasm, and a fresh perspective that will benefit your community.
“People with learning disabilities are unable to volunteer”
People with learning disabilities absolutely can volunteer when the right support, culture, and practices are in place.
Many volunteers bring unique skills, perspectives, and enthusiasm to their roles, and with the right adjustments, they can make a valuable contribution to organisations and communities.
Good practice might include providing Easy Read information, offering clear role descriptions, and ensuring that application processes are accessible.
Support from a buddy, mentor, or staff member can help build confidence and independence, while flexible tasks and environments allow people to succeed at their own pace.
Organisations that have embraced inclusive volunteering often report wider benefits, not only for individuals with learning disabilities, but for the whole team.
Volunteers gain confidence, social connections, and skills, while organisations become more reflective, creative, and inclusive.
This myth can be challenged every day by the positive examples already happening across Wales, where people with learning disabilities are actively contributing in roles from conservation and gardening to digital training and customer service.
“People with learning disabilities are unreliable”
People with learning disabilities are no more likely to be unreliable than anyone else.
In fact, many volunteers with learning disabilities enjoy routine and are highly motivated by regular, meaningful activity.
Given the opportunity, they are often some of the most consistent members of a team.
Reliability is shaped more by the role and the culture of the organisation than by the individual.
If a volunteering role is well-matched to a person’s skills and interests, and they feel valued for their contribution, commitment tends to be very high.
Volunteers with learning disabilities often take great pride in being needed and in contributing to something bigger than themselves.
Clear communication, accessible information, and supportive supervision help volunteers know what is expected of them and feel confident in meeting those expectations.
These are not “special adjustments”, but good practice for all volunteers.
By putting the right structures in place, organisations can build a dependable and motivated volunteer base that includes people with learning disabilities.
“People with learning disabilities take too much time to support”
Every volunteer needs some level of support, whether that’s an induction, ongoing supervision, or just someone to ask questions.
Involving volunteers with learning disabilities does not necessarily require significantly more time, it requires thoughtful planning and a supportive culture.
The type and level of support will vary depending on the individual.
Some people may have a support worker who attends with them, while others may only need occasional check-ins or small adjustments such as step-by-step instructions.
Often, this support is simple to provide but makes a big difference to the volunteer’s experience.
Importantly, investing time in supporting volunteers pays off.
A well-supported volunteer is more likely to remain committed, engaged, and positive about the organisation.
This is just as true for people with learning disabilities as it is for the wider volunteer group.
By embedding support into volunteer programmes as standard, organisations create a welcoming and inclusive culture that benefits everyone.
“You cannot support volunteers with a learning disability unless you are an expert”
It’s natural to feel unsure about supporting someone with a learning disability if you haven’t done it before.
Many organisations worry about “getting it wrong.”
But the truth is, you don’t have to be an expert, you simply need to be open, approachable, and willing to learn.
Supporting volunteers with learning disabilities is about building relationships.
By taking the time to get to know someone, listening to what works for them, and adapting where needed, you’ll naturally build the skills and confidence to provide support.
Over time, these everyday experiences give you the expertise you need.
Practical steps might include using clear and simple language, breaking tasks down into smaller steps, or checking understanding more regularly.
These are not complicated adjustments, and they can improve the volunteering experience for everyone.
As your confidence grows, you’ll discover that supporting people with learning disabilities is not about having specialist knowledge, but about creating a respectful and inclusive environment.
“Volunteer induction processes are too complex for people with learning disabilities to manage”
Volunteer recruitment and induction processes can sometimes feel overwhelming, even for people without additional needs.
But with some adjustments, these processes can be made accessible and engaging for everyone.
This might include simplifying written materials, offering Easy Read versions, or using pictures alongside text.
Some organisations break inductions into shorter sessions rather than delivering everything at once.
Others use peer mentors or buddies to help new volunteers feel supported from the beginning. These practices don’t remove essential steps, they make them more approachable.
Making processes more accessible benefits all volunteers, not just those with learning disabilities.
Clarity, flexibility, and support improve retention and satisfaction across the board.
At Innovate Trust, we are developing an accessible enrolment form through the Volunteering Hub, designed to make applications easier to understand and complete.
Sharing tools like this can help organisations meet their requirements while ensuring no one is excluded from volunteering.
“People with a learning disability have to bring a support worker with them if they want to volunteer”
Not all volunteers with learning disabilities need or want a support worker.
Support needs vary greatly, and it is important to see each volunteer as an individual.
Some people thrive independently with only minimal adjustments, while others may prefer to have additional support.
The most effective approach is to focus on the person, not the assumption.
Taking the time to ask about their strengths, goals, and support preferences helps ensure they can succeed in their role.
This might mean offering a buddy system, making sure instructions are clear, or arranging regular check-ins with a supervisor.
Assuming that everyone needs a support worker can discourage people from applying, or can place unnecessary restrictions on their independence.
A person-centred approach ensures that support is proportionate, appropriate, and empowering. In practice, this often leads to volunteers achieving more than was initially expected.
“It is not possible to find people with learning disabilities who want to volunteer”
There are many people with learning disabilities who are keen to volunteer, but traditional recruitment methods can create barriers.
For example, long written applications, complex role descriptions, or a lack of accessible information can prevent people from even getting started.
The key is to adapt processes and actively reach out.
Providing Easy Read materials, promoting roles through accessible channels, and working with partner organisations all help connect people with opportunities.
Tools like the Volunteering Hub are designed specifically to make opportunities easier to find and apply for.
Organisations that adapt in this way often discover a pool of enthusiastic, motivated volunteers who bring new perspectives and energy to their teams.
By breaking down barriers and challenging assumptions, it is not only possible but highly rewarding to involve people with learning disabilities in volunteering.
Meet our Gwirfoddolwyr Creawdwr
Our Creator Volunteers are a group of volunteers with learning disabilities.
A big part of their volunteering is ensuring the accessibility of Hyb Gwirfoddoli Insight and its resources.
While developing our Volunteering Hub and its resources, we worked closely with our Creator Volunteers to remove barriers preventing adults with learning disabilities from volunteering in their community.
Ynglŷn â Hyb Gwirfoddoli
ap Insight
Mae ein Hyb Gwirfoddoli yn helpu pobl ag anableddau dysgu ac anghenion ychwanegol eraill i ddod o hyd i brofiadau gwirfoddoli gwerth chweil, yn lleol ac ar-lein.
Gwyddom fod gwirfoddoli yn ffordd wych o gysylltu â’r gymuned, cefnogi eraill, a dysgu sgiliau newydd. Ein cenhadaeth yw ei gwneud hi'n hawdd i bawb gymryd rhan mewn gwirfoddoli, mewn ffordd sy'n addas iddyn nhw.
Ymunwch â'n ap Insight i gael mynediad i'r Hyb Gwirfoddoli
Mae ein Hyb Gwirfoddoli yn unigryw i Insight i aelodau gael mynediad at gyfleoedd gwirfoddoli sy’n addas iddyn nhw.