ACTION FUND PROJECT

The purpose of this project is to develop (and maintain) stronger links with local Volunteer Involving Organisations (VIO's) in order to ensure that high quality volunteer management was being delivered.

We know from our Volunteer Coordinators Forum and research undertaken over recent years that many volunteer organisers feel isolated and often ill equipped to manage volunteers.

Project Aims:

• To develop closer links with Volunteer Involving Organisations (VIOs) and complete ‘Health Checks’ on their volunteer management policies and procedures
• To encourage larger VIOs with identified good practices to partner weaker organisations and cascade knowledge/act as mentors
• To identify and rectify gaps in knowledge, establishing longer term training needs
• Link with, and input to, the relevant ChangeUp Consortium strands, via the 'Gloucestershire Infrastructure Group (GIG)' i.e. Governance/Workforce Development etc.

What does all that mean in plain English?

It means going out and visiting the organisations, find out what they do and WHY. It means helping them to develop the systems and processes necessary to make efficient use of volunteers skills and knowledge. That way the volunteer gets the role they want, and the organisation gets the person they want – everyone is happy!

Project Results:

• Volunteers will have access to best practices in the way they are recruited and managed.
• Organisations will be at less risk of legislation issues
• Retention rates of volunteers will increase (figures will need to gleaned from VIOs)
• Good practices will eventually lead to increased numbers of volunteers (VIO’s statistics)

This means that organisations can access help with putting together their policies and procedures for managing volunteers within their activities. This might include:

• Developing Volunteer Policies
• Creating role descriptions
• Designing volunteer registration forms
• Putting together an Induction Pack for new volunteers

All of the above is designed to make the volunteering experience pleasant for the volunteer and beneficial for the organisation. A win-win situation!

As a result of the success of this project Cheltenham Volunteer Centre have been appointed as the sole delivery agent for advice and support on implementation of ‘ Investing in Volunteers’ to organisations in the whole of Gloucestershire.