unlocking the value of volunteers

1. unlocking the value of volunteers Alan Strickland, Senior Policy & Information Manager Memnet Conference, 13 September 2010

2. Presentation Volunteering England: who we are Maximising the value of volunteers Engaging volunteers appropriately

3. 1. Volunteering England

4. Volunteering England Founded in 2004 following a merger of four organisations National volunteer development agency for England Membership charity with 1,400 members from all three sectors Strategic partner of Office for Civil Society in the Cabinet Office

5. What we do Champion volunteering to government and parliamentarians Collect and disseminate good practice Support the development of high quality volunteer management Accredit the national network of volunteer centres Give grants to support volunteering

6. 2. Maximising the value

7. Value of volunteering For society Social value- wider benefits Builds social cohesion Creates changes and improvement Develops altruism Provides vital services 243 the average number of volunteers supported by an NHS voluntary services manager 75 the average number of volunteers in each community radio station

8. Value of volunteering For volunteer-involving organisations • Brings a ‘human touch’ • Can build in a service user or community perspective • Volunteers can offer credibility • Offer unique mutual support • Significant return on investment • High degree of flexibility

9. Value of volunteering For the volunteer Develops skills and experience Can improve mental and physical health Easy route to pursue passions and interests Fulfilment of making a difference 6 out of 10 Formal volunteers say volunteering has given them new skills 87% of employers think that volunteering helps career progression for 16-25 year olds

10. Measuring the impact of volunteers Social return on investment Reveals positive externalities, or unintended benefits Can demonstrate much higher levels of value than conventional impact assessment • Guides • New Economics Foundation/Cabinet Office www.neweconomics.org • Volunteering Impact Assessment Toolkit, Institute for Volunteering Research www.ivr.org.uk

11. Every £1 invested created value of… £10.34 NHS Trusts £4.00 including £19m in reduced crime BTCV People’s Places Scheme £4.58 Crisis homeless volunteering programme £10 and 40% re-offending reduction St. Giles Trust

12. Delivering high quality volunteer management UK wide quality standard for volunteer involvement Also Investing in Volunteers for Employers for ESV Recently accredited: BBC, Barclays, Leonard Cheshire Disability, Herbert Smith, Microsoft UK

13. 3. Engaging volunteers appropriately

14. Engaging volunteers Clear induction Training Ongoing support Celebration and reward Problem solving/complaints procedure

15. Support tools Volunteer policy, including expenses arrangements Role descriptions Problem solving procedure Clear lead on volunteering

16. Supporting volunteers What you should cover - volunteers Out of pocket expenses: Travel costs Lunch/refreshments during volunteering Childcare Protective clothing Refund items purchased by the volunteer for the organisation, e.g. stamps, stationery Training and other activities that are part of the volunteers role

17. Supporting ‘voluntary workers’ Voluntary workers – working under a contract for a charity, but exempt from the minimum wage Usually volunteers on full-time placements Can pay enhanced expenses to recognise full-time role Should cover volunteer expenses, plus can also cover: Subsistence costs (heat, light, general living costs) Can provide accommodation, but can’t reimburse accommodation costs Needs to be proportionate to costs incurred

18. Good practice take up From Valuing Volunteer Management, Skills – Third Sector/IVR (2010)

19. Support with Good Practice VE Online Good Practice Bank Information briefings on key topics Example documents from other organisations Relevant articles and presentations

20. Supporting volunteers – the ‘benefits barrier’ Advise volunteers in receipt of benefits to mention their volunteering to Jobcentre Plus The rules Volunteers claiming Jobseekers Allowance can volunteer for as many hours as they wish, so long as they still meet the requirements of JSA Some Jobcentre Plus advisors have limited volunteering knowledge Consult DWP booklet for advice VE and JCP are running a joint project to improve the quality of advice given to benefit recipients who volunteer

21. When creating support systems for volunteers... Be proportionate...volunteers should not face the levels of paperwork as paid staff Check carefully whether rules and regulations apply...not all volunteers need a CRB check Remember that for many people, volunteering is ‘serious leisure’, an escape from work Volunteering should be an exchange – ensure volunteers are getting something out of it

22. Reducing red tape

23. Building successful relations with staff A crucial dynamic to get right. Museum sector – 60% of the workforce are volunteers Recent strikes in Southampton libraries in reaction to increased volunteer involvement Important that staff and volunteers

25. Building successful relations with staff Create clear role descriptions for volunteer posts Develop roles that complement, not displace existing staff roles Clearly explain why volunteers are joining the organisation Be clear who will manage/co-ordinate voluntary activity and how this fits with their role(s) Ensure sufficient resources are available to support volunteers Build union support from the outset Highlight and celebrate the contribution made by volunteers

26. When things don’t work out Independent Volunteer Rights Inquiry Set up in 2009, reporting Christmas 2010 Has highlighted cases of volunteers who feel mistreated by organisations Initial report suggests many cases caused by weak volunteer management and/or lack of a clear complaints procedure Creating a complaints procedure Be clear – how volunteers should raise concerns and how others can raise concerns about volunteers Ensure staff and volunteers are fully aware of the procedure

27. Example summary procedure www.nhsemployers.org

28. Invest in volunteer management Valuing Volunteer Management skills 4 out of 10 volunteer managers hadn’t received any training Need for organisations to commit more resource

29. Valuing volunteering in your organisation Board level champions Employer supported volunteering Civil service to become a ‘civic service’ (Conservative Manifesto) Invest in good quality volunteer management Sign–up to VE’s Valuing Volunteer Management Campaign Investors in Volunteers accreditation

30. Employer supported volunteering 2005 Citizenship Survey, 24% worked for an employer who had a scheme for volunteering. Home Office, Cabinet Office, DCMS provide 5 days of ESV leave each year BT, Clifford Chance, Barclays all have well established ESV schemes Shift from team-based activities to skills based programmes

31. Making the investment Research by Corporate Citizenship found that employee community involvement generated morale, motivation, commitment and performance, EDF found that the money saved in staff retention paid for their entire employer supported volunteering programme within six months of the scheme’s launch. Centrica found that involvement in its volunteering scheme increased job satisfaction, improved retention and reduced absence due to sickness.

32. Employer supported volunteering Employee interests and skills Community need Business priorities

33. Join the campaign Sign up to the volunteer management endorsement www.volunteering.org.uk/vmendorsement

34. Celebrate your involvement • Volunteers Week • UK wide campaign • 1-7 June every year • Events across the country • Supported by hundreds of organisations • Good opportunity to publicly celebrate your work

35. Summary of key points See volunteering as an investment – for the volunteer, your organisation and society Develop simple but effective volunteer support systems Invest in high quality volunteer management Keep red tape and bureaucracy to a minimum Listen to volunteers – take advantage of their knowledge, perspectives and ideas Make us of good practice and learn from other organisations Develop volunteering in a way that supports your organisations priorities

36. thank you alan.strickland@volunteering.org.uk