1. What is Youth Bank?

 

Youth Bank is a pioneering and innovative initiative that is run by young people for the benefit of the community and themselves. Besides Aiming to connect youths with Volunteer Host Organisations via an online portal, it also helps to record and coordinate volunteers’ pledges and contributions using an online tracking system.

 

Since its launch in 2006, Youth Bank has more than 10,000 registered volunteers and more than 50 partnering Volunteer Hosting Organisations to celebrate the meaning engagement of the youths and facilitates the sharing of experiences and ideas amongst them, thereby encouraging their development as community champions.

 

2. Why would I be interested in Youth Bank?

 

 If you have passion for volunteering but do not know where or how to start, Youth Bank can serve as the stepping stone for you to start on an enriching journey. It offers you the convenience of a ‘one-stop’ information centre and saves you time shopping around for volunteering opportunities. The Youth Bank’s online portal has more than 50 partnering VHOs and each of them offer a variety of interesting volunteering activities at different commitment levels. Registration is made easy as you can do so online via the online portal at www.bank4u.org. 

 

 Upon signing up for the activity of your choice, Youth Bank or the respective VHO will notify you with updates of the newest project details.

 

 After you start the project, volunteer hours can then be deposited at Youth Bank based on the number of actual hours you have completed for the VHO. The whole process has been made simple and easy for you since the system will automatically update all of your information including completed volunteer hours.

 

 

In addition, you can share information, experience, ideas and opinion with other like-minded youths via the Youth Bank’s interactive forums. In this way you can also make new friends who share the same passion for volunteer work as you.

 

 

At the end of your volunteer experience, you can further help the VHOs by exchanging your completed volunteer hours for useful items which you can donate to charities of your choice. This will be another way that you can contribute to the community from your heart.

 

 

3. How do I sign up for the Youth Bank?

 

Log-on to Youth Bank website: www.bank4u.org:

1. Click on the “Sign-up now” link
2. Fill in the required information
3. Click the “Submit” link

 

Do not press the “ENTER” key as it may cause some problems with your registration.  Upon completion, please remember to update your profile so that we know your interest and preferences and then we can recommend volunteering work which is suitable for you.

 

4. How do I use the online portal when I my account is approved?

 

Log-in to your account using your NRIC/FIN No. as your username and type in your password.  On your home page, your particulars will be displayed and the Announcements regarding various activities will be shown.

 

Search and join an activity

1. Click on <Search Activity>

2. Select preferred activity and Organisation

3. From list of activities displayed, simply sign up for any that matches your interest

4. Key in number of pledge hours

5. Please allow some time for the VHOs to contact you once application has been processed

Join a VHO

At the volunteer Home Page:

·        Under the “My VHO” panel, click on <More>button

·        Click on the <join new VHO?>button

·        Select the VHO to join and click <Join>

To see the list of the VHO you are involved with, simply click on the “My VHO” link.

 

Check CIP Hours

You may check the number of volunteer hours you have deposited in you logbook.  To view your Log Book:

·        Click <More> at the volunteer home page

·        Under “My Hours” panel OR

·        Click on <Log Book> from the menu bar

 

Send or View testimonials

At the volunteer home page under the “Recent Testimonial” panel, click <More> to access the testimonial page where your can send a testimonial or receive testimonials from other volunteers of VHO(s).

 

Further queries

You can contact us at:

·        1800-YOUBANK or 1800-968 2265

·        Email us at “admin@bank4u.org”

 

Log-on to the website frequently, to check out the updates from the different VHO(s) posting up new events and activities on a regular basis

 

5. Forgot password?

 

Log-on to the webpage, click the “Forgot Password” link.  The system will ask for your email address, fill in your details, and wait for the mail containing your password from the portal.  If you do not receive an email within the next 15 mins, please email your request to admin@bank4u.org.

 

 

6. I have problems logging in to the network. Is the website ok?

 

Currently, our portal has not reached a perfect functioning stage and we are doing our best to improve it.  Problems may occur once in a while, so please be patient and bear with us.  Our technicians are already on the job and the problem should be resolved shortly.  Sorry for any inconvenience caused and thank you for notifying us.

 

Please continue to give us your feedback, and should you encounter any problem, you can call us at 1800-YOUBANK or 1800-968 2265 or email us at “admin@bank4u.org”.

 

7. What is Windows Live Alerts used for?  How do I register for it?

 

The Youth Bank “Windows Live Alert” feature allows registered users to receive updates on new volunteering opportunities and news on community issues. Reminders will appear when registered users log on to their MSN account.

To sign up for the alert:

A.        On home page of Youth Bank, click  on ‘Windows Live ALert’

B.        You will be re-directed to the Windows Live Alerts on Youth Bank Sign-in Page.

C.        Sign in using your “MSN Net.Passport”

D.        After sign-in, you will be re-directed to the Alert Sign-up page.

E.        Check the box beside “Youth Bank” and click <Submit> to receive alerts from the Youth Bank.

F.         Your may also change your Alert Delivery Preferences by clicking on the link <Change delivery rreferences> on the top right corner of the page, to choose how you would like to receive the alerts via Windows Live Messenger Pop-up or Email.

 

We strongly encourage you to sign up for the alert to stay connected with the community.

 

 

8. Why is Youth Bank meaningful as mentioned?

 

The Youth Bank provides you suitable volunteering opportunities for your interest and time.  We will efficiently link you up with the VHO to make your volunteering experience meaningful and convenient.  Moreover, not only can you volunteer your time to meaningful charities, but in the process, you can also make new friends who share the same passion for volunteer work through our interactive online forums and regular gatherings.  At the end of your volunteer work, you can collaborate with your friends to pool together your volunteer hours and exchange for household appliances which you will donate to the VHO of your choice.  Not only will you be helping your VHO through your volunteer work, you can now give them something that may help further their cause.

 

9. How do I get my CIP letters?  Is it valid?  Will it be accepted by school?

 

You can generate your CIP letters by logging on to our portal at www.bank4u.org.  Click on the “logbook” link.  You can generate you CIP letter by clicking on the link beside the specified activity then click <Print My Volunteer Hours> to print out your CIP hour record and present to your school.

 

The CIP letter generated will be a formal letter from Youth Bank to prove your contribution in your CIP project.  If your school does not approve the letter, please contact us @ admin@bank4u.org, and we will assist to inform your school.

 

 

10. My volunteer hours have not been updated, what should I do?  Is there anything wrong?

 

There maybe some delay to the updating of your volunteer hours due to communication between the VHOs and our coordinators (or other technical reasons).  Please allow at least 14 working days for the VHOs to update your volunteer hours on the portal.  

 

In the event that your account(s) is still not updated after 14 working days, please contact us at admin@bank4u.org.  We will contact you as soon as possible.

 

 

11.The Youth Bank has a Pro-Active Customised Matching, how is it different from other systems?  (not implemented yet)

 

Youth Bank does not simply mechanically match volunteers with Volunteer Host Organizations (VHO).  The unique feature about Youth Bank is that we understand each volunteer’s preferences to better match him with a host organization based on his online profile.  In doing so, Youth Bank can increase success rates and facilitate a more meaningful experience for volunteers.  We even have a dedicated team of volunteer co-ordinators who manage the Call Centre to constantly track your volunteer activity, commitment, and experience.  We are the first to maximize your volunteering experience in this way.

 

 

12. How would volunteers be contacted by Volunteer Host Organizations (VHO) and their respective coordinators?

 

Volunteer co-ordinators from Youth Bank and your respective Volunteer Host Organizations will contact you after you have signed up for an activity through an email/phone call.  We will constantly update you with relevant detailed information regarding the project.  We could contact you based on your preferred medium such as through emails, smses, or direct calls.

 

 

13. How would VHOs be able to contact their respective volunteers?

 

The contact details of the volunteers who have signed up for your Organisation’s volunteer activity will be forwarded to you upon request or you may access this information through your organisation’s account on the Youth Bank.  Our co-ordinators will also continue to monitor the progress the volunteers’ commitment to your organization as well as contact you with regards to any feedback or issues concerning your volunteers.

 

 

14. How would the exchange of volunteer hour to useful items work?  Will there be any official document to acknowledge the contribution (exchange)?  Who will be receiving these items?

 

Currently, we are still trying to work out the details with corporate clients regarding the pledging of items to youth bank.  However, you can start accumulating your volunteer hours to be able to get a head start on your way to exchange items for the organization of your choice.

 

Basically, the idea is that you can trade certain amount of your volunteering hours in exchange to basic household items such as basic grocery items, wheel-chairs etc etc...  You can then donate the items to the VHO of your choice.

 

 

15. What is the benefit (potential benefit) of the Youth Bank volunteer’s card? What are the card privileges?  (not implemented yet)

 

The Youth Bank volunteer card is similar in concept of a reward card.  Each youth volunteer that has shown exceptional performance in terms of the number of hours volunteered (50 hours per year) and good testimonials from volunteer hosting organizations will be issued a Volunteer Card that will entitle them to discounted courses, seminars, dialogue sessions and discounted educational products.

 

 

16. How to get the Volunteers’ Card?

 

Volunteers that have shown exceptional passion for volunteering or have gone beyond the call of their VHO can be entitled to the volunteer card once they have completed 50 hours within the year.

 

 

17. Do you organize any activities for the volunteers signed up with Youth Bank?

 

The Youth Bank forms a focal point for the youths to gather on a quarterly basis to celebrate their involvement and share new ideas and experience.  The objective is to create sustainability and encourage the development of youths as community champions.  It is a great way of demonstrating and facilitating what the youths can do and have fun at the same time.  Also, the portal will include an interactive forum to encourage active blogging for all volunteers.

 

 

18. I do not have time to update my volunteer hours/post my activities on the Youth Bank.  What can I do?

 

You can just simply inform your respective VHO coordinator.  He/she will forward the “Youth Bank Authorization Form”.  This is to authorize Heartware Network, the program administrator of Youth Bank, to update volunteer hours for your respective volunteers or to update information regarding the activities that your organization has planned.  

 

You may then fax a completed copy of this document to Heartware Network at 6259-4044.  Upon approval, we will then assist you in updating information on Youth Bank.