FUSION PROJECT

The five accredited Volunteer Centres that are members of the Gloucestershire Infrastructure Group (GIG) are developing a model of good practice of collective working, common policies, procedures and protocols.

Research is being undertaken to provide a VBase (Customer Relations Management database used by all volunteer centres in UK) and Communications Intranet (linking all the county volunteer centres), allowing the up-to-date transference of strategic information and developments and countywide registration and access to data regarding Volunteering Involving Organisations (VIO's) and opportunities.

A county marketing strategy will be developed.

What is the current situation?

Until now each Volunteer Centre has worked independently, linked only by a county forum promoting mutual support and exchange of ideas. Owing to limited resources there has been little or no opportunity for “cross-district” boundary recruitment or placement, or for rural/urban exchange, or for sharing and standardising functions.

When registering their organisation and each volunteering opportunity, county groups have to register separately with each Volunteer Centre.

Potential volunteers in one part of the country are currently unable to view opportunities in another part of the county unless they register with multiple centres.

Objectives

• Volunteers throughout Gloucestershire will have access to opportunities across the county via their local access point (i.e. their nearest volunteer centre).

• Volunteer Involving Organisations will have access to volunteers from across the county without the need to replicate registrations with different volunteer centres.

• Volunteer Centres will be able to participate in joint marketing initiatives with common literature, posters, etc. This will have major cost saving implications as well as a major benefit in terms of ‘brand recognition’.