Investing in Volunteers Standard - New changes in 2010

Investing in Volunteers Standard - New Changes in 2010

The Investing in Volunteers standard was reviewed in 2009 and the newly revised standard will be used from January 2010. The standard continues to cover the four key areas of volunteer management. The rigour and credibility is the same as before.

There are two key changes:

1. The standard itself has been revised and now consists of 9 indicators and 46 practices. The overall purpose and content of the standard has not changed, there have been minor changes in wording and some reordering of practices to improve clarity and remove repetition. Main difference is the old indicators 6 and 7 have merged, and the indicators relating to recognition and support have changed order. This will be reflected in the Final Report which the QA panel see. Attach standard.

2. The process for achieving Investing in Volunteers will be presented as a 6 step process. The process itself is not changing – the old 10 steps are being condensed into 6, making it more manageable and attractive to potential organisations.

Overall, guidance documents for both assessors and organisations have been updated and tidied up. The website and tracking system are being updated to reflect these changes.

Please be aware that groups registered before 2010 will continue to use the old materials and therefore some reports being quality assured over the next year will be against the old standard.

If you have completed your first step - the workshop, you can continue working against the old standard. We will hold a copy of all the old standard documents (from the website) at head office and your assessor will also hold copies but please note that the website will contain all the new and updated guidance documents based on the revised standard.

If you have not yet completed the workshop stage, you have a choice of switching to the revised standard.

If you have only just committed to the Investing in Volunteers process, you will automatically be going through the revised standard.

Please be assured that the overall purpose and content of the standard has not changed, there have been minor changes in wording and some reordering of practices to improve clarity and remove repetition.

If you have any queries or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact your relevant country manager.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation with this changeover.

The IiV Team

December 2009