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Investing In Volunteers
is an award made to organisations which can demonstrate that they
achieve a given standard of good practice in the management of their
volunteers. It is now a national scheme, based upon a National Lottery-funded
initiative of four local Volunteer Bureaux.
Nearly 20 years after SECHC
began, we realised that we really needed to check
our structure and practices; so two years ago we applied for Investing
in
Volunteer's certification. Their
Development Officer, Sarah Hewitson, has supported and guided our
work, pointing out aspects that we regularly observed but needed
formally to establish for the benefit and guidance of all volunteers.
After much work (described below), it was the
final stage of our application. Two external assessors spent a day
here, examining the recorded policies and practices of the Centre;
and they interviewed eight volunteers - each representing a different
volunteer role.
Two weeks later the report arrived, confirming
that we had achieved the required
standards. Here is an extract:
"It was very clear that South
East Cancer Help Centre values its volunteers;
this was enthusiastically demonstrated by all those we interviewed.
The volunteers interviewed were enormously keen on their work and
paid tribute to the helpfulness of the staff and trustees. A number
of the volunteers had been with the organisation for many years
and felt committed to their role and to the entire organisation.
We were also impressed by the organisation's continuous efforts
to improve and expand their services to their patients. This in
turn develops opportunities for volunteers"
During the previous two years, every practice
and procedure for our work had been examined, starting with that
first conversation with a prospective volunteer - how they were
dealt with, where this was registered; revising
procedures, producing a volunteer handbook, agreeing policies, risk
assessments and more. These were all approved by our Trustees and
recorded in three large folders. Initially, I don't think we fully
appreciated the amount of time and
commitment needed - it certainly proved a huge learning experience!
Thanks to all those volunteers who agreed to
be interviewed; and to Carole
Collins, Eve Lister, Sue Taylor and Jan Viret who were all involved
in the work for the project and helped towards its successful outcome.
Here at Purley we are very fortunate in our Volunteers who take
such an active and enthusiastic interest in their work.
Kathleen Behan
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