General information about new initiatives, events, and help available from Volunteering England and other organisations
How to take care of risk in volunteering - a guide for organisations (download pdf 4.7mb)
Launch of Investing in Volunteers for Employers
‘Investing in Volunteers for Employers’ has been developed to help improve the management and outcomes of employer supported volunteering programmes (ESV). The development of the new standard has been funded by CapacityBuilders as part of the ChangeUp programme delivered by the Volunteering Hub. Through the Website: http://www.investinginvolunteers.org.uk employers can explore the ten key areas of employer supported volunteering best practice. These can then be used to benchmark current work. Areas covered by the standard include: Recruitment; Supervision; Risk management; Recognition.
The Investing in Volunteers for Employers framework is available free of charge, with a registration fee for those wishing to gain the externally assessed, UK wide, Investing in Volunteers for Employers quality mark.
For further information contact Gina Aylward, Tel.: 020 7520 8990, Email: iiv@volunteeringengland.org.ukDisability Volunteering
National disability organisations, Scope and Leonard Cheshire have produced a guide designed to help volunteer managers make their volunteering opportunities accessible to young disabled people.
Funding from the Home Office has financed the development of the guide, which has been co-produced with a group of young disabled people. It includes practical advice on involving and recruiting young disabled people as volunteers and is available free to interested organisations.
The toolkit can be downloaded from: http://www.can-do-volunteering.org and is available as a printed booklet, on a CD or in alternative formats free of charge from Tel.: 01908 321 049 or Email: publications@scope.org.uk
Faithful Volunteering
In a faith community nearly everyone is a volunteer: the members of the managing council, youth leaders, visitors, Boards and Committees – nowadays there are many volunteers serving as priests, pastors or congregational leaders. It becomes different if organisations involve people from other faith communities in their work. Church and Society has produced a good practice guide which focuses on using volunteers outside our particular local faith community although many of the good practice guidelines apply in all circumstances.
Copies of the ‘Faithful Volunteers’ Good Practice Guide (MS Word Format) can be downloaded from: http://www.changeupmerseyside.org.uk/docs/faithvolunteering.doc
‘V’ - 1 Million New Young Volunteers by 2010
‘V’ is an independent charity set up as a result of the government project, the Russell Commission which spoke to over 6000 young people and more than 700 organisations involved in volunteering. The Commission made a number of recommendations including setting up an independent charity to get more young people volunteering and inspire a new generation of young volunteers (at least 1 million more 16 – 25 year olds in volunteering by 2010). So what does that mean? It means more young people on community radio, more young people improving the environment, more young people running sports clubs, more young people taking part in international projects - basically more young people giving their time and talents to improve their communities. For more information visit the Website: http://www.wearev.com
Jus’ Do it
Jus’ Do it is a V youth-led peer research project which recently asked young people from BME and faith groups about their experiences of volunteering and has provided some best practice recommendations for organisations wanting to attract more volunteers from those groups. Changemakers has published a brochure of case studies and a short film which are both available from the Website: http://www.changemakers.org.uk
ICT Hub HelpDesk
The ICT Hub have launched their new HelpDesk. The ICT HelpDesk enables access to free information, advice and guidance on strategic ICT issues. To call the HelpDesk, use the free phone number Tel.: 0800 652 4737 or Email: helpdesk@icthub.org.uk
CapacityBuilders
CapacityBuilders is a new agency with responsibility to initially manage the £70million ChangeUp programme for the financial years 2006/07 and 2007/08 and to secure sustained funding until 2014. CapacityBuilders will work with Voluntary and Community organisations in every region to help them become even more effective and efficient. For further details visit the website: http://www.capacitybuilders.org.uk.
You can also download the:
CapacityBuilders strategy and programme of action ‘Fit for Growth’ (PDF Format) from: http://www.changeupmerseyside.org.uk/docs/fitforgrowth.pdf.
Learning Loops for Volunteer Managers
The new 'learning with others' programme is being funded by the Home Office and CapacityBuilders as part of the ChangeUp programme delivered by the Volunteering Hub.
The Volunteering Hub is looking recruiting volunteer learning advisors whose role will be to facilitate local 'learning loops' of volunteer managers who will meet to build their capacity to learn, making them more effective in their work. They are also recruiting learning loop participants, volunteer managers who are passionate about learning and keen to get support from other volunteer managers.
For information about the opportunities this programme is offering and to apply to become a volunteer learning advisor visit: http://www.volunteering.org.uk/aboutus/volunteeringhub
The Impact of Investing in Volunteers
The Centre for Voluntary Action Research at Aston Business School has recently published an evaluation of the impact of Investing in Volunteers. Investing in Volunteers is the UK quality standard for organisations who involve volunteers in their work.
‘The Impact of Investing in Volunteers’ report can be downloaded (PDF Format) from: http://www.iiv.org.uk/Impact_Benefits_report_2006.pdf.To find out more about Investing in Volunteers visit: http://www.investinginvolunteers.org.uk
Criminal Records Bureau Business Plan
The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) has published its five-year strategy for service delivery. To access the strategy visit: http://www.crb.gov.uk/Default.aspx?page=4142
Charity Mission and Visions
‘Mission Impossible’ is a new report from nfpSynergy which brings together over 80 vision statements from a range of non-profit organisations. The report takes away all the hard work of trawling through other organisations' websites. To download a free copy visit: http://www.nfpsynergy.net/freereports
Volunteering England Information Line
The Volunteering England information line is doubling its opening hours. It is now open from 9.30am - 5.30pm, Monday to Friday. The free phone number is Tel.: 0800 028 3304. The information service can answer questions on all aspects of volunteer management, such as CRB checks, benefits rules, health and safety, and dealing with difficult situations. The service is also available via Email: information@volunteeringengland.org
IT Infrastructure Report
A new report on IT infrastructure in the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) has been published. The authors believe IT infrastructure to be one of the most important issues facing the sector and they hope that the report will contribute to a better understanding of where organisations currently stand, and where they are going in the next few years. Download the IT Infrastructure Report (PDF Format) from: http://www.do-it.org.uk/files/VCS_IT_Infrastructure.pdf
Third Sector Network
NCVO has launched a network to unite Voluntary and Community organisations, trade unions, housing associations, social enterprises, co-operatives and mutuals, to share ideas and experience and work together on issues of common concern. For further details Email: belinda.pratten@ncvo-vol.org.uk
UK Workforce Hub helpdesk
The UK Workforce Hub’s free helpdesk can answer workforce development questions. Their team of advisers aim to signpost organisations to sources of help on good employment practice, learning and development, leadership and management, National Occupational Standards, publications, careers in the voluntary sector, volunteering and research. To access the helpdesk Tel.: 0800 652 5737 or Email: help@ukworkforcehub.org.uk
Code of Practice for Volunteer Fundraisers
The Institute of Fundraising have developed a code of practice for volunteer fundraisers. The document can be obtained for free from the Institute of Fundraising's Website: http://www.institute-of-fundraising.org.uk
Fire Safety Risk Assessments
Voluntary and Community organisations will soon be required to appoint a 'responsible person' and undertake a detailed fire safety risk assessment. The ODPM have published a range of free guidance on what preparation steps organisations should take. For details visit: http://www.odpm.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1162101
Performance Hub Developments
The Performance Hub is launching a range of services for infrastructure organisations who provide support to voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations with improving their performance. Services offered by the hub include: Supporting Performance e-community, Regional Supporting Performance Action Learning Sets and Visit programme. For details visit: http://www.performancehub.org.uk/givingsupport or contact Fiona Martin, Tel.: 0114 278 6636 (Ext. 125), Email: fiona.martin@navca.org.uk
Good Employment Factsheets
The UK Workforce Hub has produced a range of free factsheets on good employment practice. They are particularly useful for voluntary organisations without dedicated Human Resources (HR) expertise and trustees taking on responsibilities for employment for the first time. The factsheets are available from the Website: http://www.ukworkforcehub.org.uk
NCVO HelpDesk
A free telephone, email or textphone service is available for Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) volunteers, paid workers and trustees. Offering advice, support, signposting and information the HelpDesk is open Monday to Friday (9.00am - 6.00pm). Tel.: 0800 279 8798, Email: helpdesk@askncvo.org.uk
Voluntary Arts Network Briefing Papers
The Voluntary Arts Network aims to promote participation in the arts and crafts across the UK and ROI, and increasingly in Europe. For further details visit the Website: http://www.voluntaryarts.org. The Website boasts a range of useful Briefing Papers which can be downloaded including: ‘Consultation – making it work for you’; ‘What do I need to know about Copyright?’; ‘Networking; not just nattering’ etc.
Research on HR Volunteering Expertise
Have you volunteered your HR expertise within a voluntary organisation? Or you have volunteers who support you in your HR/personnel issues? If so the Employment Practice Team at the UK Workforce Hub would like to hear about your experience. The aim of this research is to promote the importance of good people management and HR throughout the sector and to help identify the feasibility of some kind of HR support via volunteers. For more information contact Lai-Har Cheung by Email: Lai-Har.Cheung@ukworkforcehub.org.uk
Registering as a Charity: Evidence of CRB Disclosures
The Charity Commission has published specific guidance for Voluntary and Community organisations seeking to register with the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) as a charity working with children or provide care services to vulnerable adults. For further details visit: http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/registration/crb.asp
Campaign Against Age Discrimination in Volunteering
Volunteering England (VE) and Volunteering in the Third Age (VITA) are calling for support for their campaign against old age discrimination in volunteering. They want to ensure that anyone who wants to can volunteer, regardless of their age. VE and VITA are asking volunteer-involving organisations to sign up to some or all of three commitments. For further details visit: http://www.volunteering.org.uk/campaignsandpolicies/agediscrimination
The GoldStar Initiative
The GoldStar initiative aims to help voluntary organisations across the country to share good practice in recruiting and retaining volunteers from socially excluded groups and to learn from the experiences of others. It commenced with a series of 9 regional events held across England in June 2006. For further information visit: http://www.keystone-group.co.uk/goldstar
Governance Hub Toolkits
Three new toolkits have been produced and are available to download for free from the Governance Hub website.
The toolkits are designed to help organisations to:
1. Use ‘Good Governance; the Code for the Voluntary and Community Sector’ either to assess their governance performance or to learn more about governance (or both).
2. Use the National Occupational Standards (NOS) for Trustees and Management Committee Members (Trustee Standards). The toolkit provides trustees and others with the practical tools and signposting needed to use the Standards to improve performance.
3. Improve the ways in which they recruit trustees. The toolkit presents a 10-step process to trustee recruitment, starting with the initial stages of planning and concludes with the final evaluation of the process.
Getting Trustee Recruitment Right
How do you go about finding new trustees and what skills should you look for? And, importantly, how do you know what checks to make – especially if your charity works with vulnerable beneficiaries?
The Charity Commission are shortly planning to publish a new guide, ‘Finding new trustees: what charities need to know’, which will go through the processes involved, from undertaking a skills audit, to advertising vacancies, to being clear about when Criminal Records Bureau checks really needed.
Finding new trustees: what charities need to know (order code CC30) will give practical guidance for each step of the process and should help boards get it right first time when recruiting new trustees. The guide will shortly be available from the website: http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk or by calling The Charity Commission direct on Tel.: 0845 000 218
New Voluntary Sector Management Qualification
Charitytraining.com is offering a BTEC Professional Certificate in Voluntary Sector Management, supported by the awarding body EDEXCEL. The qualification has been specifically designed to meet the development needs of charity professionals and is the first of its kind within the UK. For more information visit the Website: http://www.charitytraining.com, Email: enquiry@charitytraining.com or Tel.: 01778 344 113
Stronger Communities Equals Safer Communities
The Home Office has published evidence that local strategies targeted at increasing a sense of community could also reduce levels of neighbourhood crime. The research shows that local areas that have a higher sense of community have lower levels of 'all reported crime'. The report can be downloaded (PDF Format) from: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs06/rdsolr1906.pdf
Volunteering Hub Good Practice Bank
The Good Practice Bank brings together articles, information sheets, case studies, links and other helpful guidance on a range of volunteering issues. The Bank aims to grow and evolve as more information is added to it. It also aims to allow users to share their documents with other volunteering organisations.
Visit the Bank at: http://www.volunteering.org.uk/managingvolunteers/goodpracticebank
Volunteering Information Sheets
Volunteering England offers a series of printable Information Sheets via their website. The sheets cover topics from expenses and health and safety to insurance and accreditation. Some of the sheets are aimed at potential volunteers, while others have been written as guides for volunteer managers. The latest Information Sheets include: Definitions of volunteering; Making a decision on involving ex-offenders; How to say 'thank you' to your volunteers; Monitoring & evaluating a volunteer programme; National Statistics on volunteering; Problem Solving Procedures. To access the full list of Sheets visit: http://www.volunteering.org.uk/information
NACVS Name Change
NACVS has changed its name to NAVCA, the National Association for Voluntary and Community Action. NAVCA is the national voice of local voluntary and community sector infrastructure in England. 360 NACVA members work with over 140,000 local community groups and voluntary organisations, helping them to provide services, regenerate neighbourhoods, increase volunteering and tackle discrimination in partnership with local public bodies. For further details visit the Website: http://www.navca.org.uk or Email: navca@navca.org.uk
Volunteers - The Heart and Soul of the Sector?
Do you recognise the following: ‘Volunteers goodwill is as valuable an asset and as formidable a force as funds raised from supporters’ but ‘the rise of professional fundraising and the professionalisation of the sector over the past few decades have resulted in the role of volunteers often being downplayed. A report has been published which highlights these and other concerns which can be downloaded from: http://www.nfpsynergy.net
Commission on the Future of Volunteering
The England Volunteering Development Council (EVDC) has established the ‘Commission on the Future of Volunteering’ which will report in June 2007. The Commission on the Future of Volunteering will help to steer the development of a long-term vision for volunteering in England. The Commission is a legacy of the Year of the Volunteer 2005 and is a component of the work of the Volunteering Hub. Download (PDF Format):
EVDC’s submission to the Commission: http://www.volunteering.org.uk/NR/
rdonlyres/AF5DF2D7-FB9E-4A08-978C-3118994D1445/0/EVDCSubmissiontotheCommissionontheFutureofVolunteering.pdf.
Volunteering England's submission to the Commission:
http://www.volunteering.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/3ECCF231-DFA7-4FF1-AE74-EBC7EE64DDFE/0/Volunteering_England_submission_to_the_Commission_on_
on_on_the_Future_of_Volunteering_June_2006.pdf
Age Discrimination Factsheets
The DTI has published eight factsheets on the age discrimination regulations which will be introduced in October 2006. For further information visit: http://www.dti.gov.uk/employment/discrimination/age-discrimination/age-legislation/page29258.html
New Volunteering and Benefits Guidance
The Department of Work and Pensions has published new guidance on volunteering and benefits. ‘A Guide to Volunteering While on Benefits’ can be downloaded: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/volunteering.
Concerns have been raised nationally about the guidance and in particular the sections which cover the payment of volunteer expenses. To view the Volunteering England Information Sheet produced in response to this: www.volunteering.org.uk/managingvolunteers/goodpracticebank
/Information/DWP+meal+expenses.htm
PLEASE NOTE
Inclusion of third party information in this section of the volunteeringrichmondshire website does not constitute an endorsement by Richmondshire Volunteer Centre. RVC takes no responsibility for the quality of third party events, products or services featured in this update.
