Volunteers are the lifeblood of your centre. When you work with volunteers it is important that you are clear what they can expect from the centre and what you expect from them.
Some of the key points about working with volunteers and some thoughts you need to discuss with them before taking them on are shown in the bullet points below.
- Make sure the relationship between the paid staff, if you have any, and the volunteers is effectively managed and that all staff value the contribution that the volunteers are making.
- Remember you have a duty of care to the volunteers as you do to paid staff.
- Ensure volunteers get a full induction to the centre and have a named person within the organisation who they can go to, like a manager for paid staff.
- Make sure volunteers have a good understanding of how volunteering might effect the government benefits they may be on.
- Use the volunteers' strengths and develop some of their weaker areas discuss their weaker ones with them and develop a job or volunteer development plan with them so they can see what they are expected to do and what you can do for them in return.
- Also remember that as you help volunteers develop they are likely to move on fairly quickly either into paid employment or into different work. This is good and a sign that you have helped improve them. However this may cause a problem for your centre. Make sure you make good use of volunteers while you have them and then celebrate with them as they move onto pastures new. Then look forward to employing a new volunteer who not only can you help to progress but who will have new ideas and can help progress your centre in different ways.
If you want more information on this topic please have a look at the documents shown in the suggested links section below.
Useful Links
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Help is at hand
These guides have been written to help UK online centre staff, whatever their job role, ensure the long-term sustainability and appropriate development of their centre.
Volunteering England
Volunteering England works to promote volunteering as a powerful force for change, both for those who volunteer and for the wider community.
Doncaster Volunteer Centre
The volunteer centre can help you to develop appropriate policies and procedures for working with volunteers to national standards. They are also able to promote your volunteering opportunities.
Voluntary Action Wakefield District
Links to good practice toolkits and guidance sheets produced by the National Centre for Volunteering. |
