Volunteers may take a break for several reasons. With SSAFA, volunteers are able to take a break for up to 18 months.

This discussion should be informal and light. This conversation should be handled sensitively as Volunteer’s reasons for taking a break may be complex and personal.

Please note that discussion script below is only a guide. As a Volunteer Manager, you can shape and frame the conversation to feel natural and be led by the volunteer.

Discussion Script

VM  Hello! Thank you for taking the time to speak with me today. I just wanted to have a chat about you taking a break from your volunteering role with SSAFA.  

This is an informal chat; we just want to find out if there’s anything we can support you with or if you would like to go over the break process and then also how you would return. Volunteers are able to take up to 18 months as a break from their volunteering.

Could you let me know the reason you would like to take a break?

Volunteers should select a reason from the following:

• Maternity / Paternity / Adoption Break.
• Childcare responsibilities.
• Caring responsibilities.
• Illness / Long Term Health Condition.
• Bereavement.
• Moving.
• Tour / Exercise.
• Change in Circumstance.
• Holiday.
• Burnout.
• A different reason.
• Prefer not to say.

When would you like to return to volunteering?

Please note, on your return will need to have a returners discussion with your Volunteer Manager.

If you have taken a break for more than 2 months, then two weeks prior to your return you will receive an email directly from your Volunteer Manager to welcome you back and possible dates to book your returners discussion.

You can do this by either contacting your Volunteer Manager who can adjust your return date, or you can login to Go Assemble and adjust your own return date. This will notify your Volunteer Manager who will then get in touch to arrange your returners discussion.

If you decide that you are unable to return after your break, then that is absolutely fine. We will support you with what is right for you. It is important that if you do want to stop volunteering that you let us know so we can initiate the leavers process.

After 18 months, or 2 months after you were due to return, if we have received no correspondence from you then you will be off-boarded.

Before ending the discussion ensure you have captured the following:

Thank you for speaking with me! If there’s anything else I can support with, please don’t hesitate to get in touch!