User guide

Getting into the volunteer portal

Pick the box that describes you. Each one is four short steps.

Already volunteer with us?

Activate your account

You are already on our roster, so there is no form to fill in. You just need a password.

1
Go to Activate account.
Activate account →
2
Enter the email address The Big Umbrella already has for you.
It must match the one we email you on, or the link will not arrive.
3
Open the email and click the link.
The link works once and lasts 24 hours. If it has expired, request a new one.
4
Choose a password.
That is it. You are in, and from now on you log in with your email and password.

New to The Big Umbrella?

Applications take about five minutes. A coordinator looks at every one before you can log in.

1
Fill in the volunteer application.
Have your Working With Children Check handy if you already hold one. You can add documents later too.
Apply to volunteer →
2
Wait for approval.
We will email you once a coordinator has reviewed your application.
3
Go to Activate account and enter the email you applied with.
Activate account →
4
Click the link in the email and choose a password.
You are in.

Four things, and the first three only take a few minutes.

1
Check your details and availability.
Your availability is how we decide which shifts to invite you to, so keep it current.
2
Upload your documents.
Working With Children Check, food safety certificate, first aid, and driver licence if you have them.
3
Add any dates you are away.
We will not invite you to shifts while you are away.
4
Watch your email for shift invites.
They arrive as calendar invitations. Reply Yes, No or Maybe in the invite and we see your answer straight away.

The activation email never arrived.: Check your junk folder first. Then make sure you used the email address The Big Umbrella has for you. If you applied recently, you may not be approved yet. Still nothing? Email admin@thebigumbrella.org.
The link says it is invalid or expired.: Links work once and last 24 hours. Go back to Activate account and request a fresh one.
I already have a password.: Just log in. If you have forgotten it, use the forgot password link on the login page.
My email address has changed.: Email admin@thebigumbrella.org with your old and new address before you activate, so the link goes to the right place.

Onboarding someone is two steps: make sure they are approved, then send them this page.

Existing volunteer: check their email address in the Volunteers directory, then send them this page. They activate themselves.
New volunteer: approve them in the directory under Pending review, then send them this page.
Nobody can activate until their status is Approved. If someone cannot get in, that is the first thing to check.

Still stuck? Email admin@thebigumbrella.org and somebody will help.