RNID Scotland

Name of Organisation

RNID Scotland

Why did you decide to go for Investing in Volunteers?

We had established a new volunteering project aiming for a high standard of quality of volunteering opportunities. The IIV standard was a natural way for us to demonstrate this and to ensure we met a high standard, as well as using the process to learn where further development would be most beneficial.

In addition we perceived there to be strategic benefits to holding the standard in terms of partnership development in future.

What benefits have you found from working towards Investing in Volunteers?

The structured process of assessment was very helpful in allowing us to create a development plan for further improvements to our program.

Tell us about your experience of the assessment process in your organisation.

The process was simple to follow, the emphasis placed on involving a wide cross section of stakeholders was useful, and the volunteer interviews ensured that we got an accurate picture of how well we are performing.

5 Practical tips you would give another organisation working towards Investing in Volunteers

·Ensure that you have management buy in before proceeding

·Ideally the process should be led by a staff member dedicated to volunteer management development, or with a strong focus on this, and have the authority to implement changes efficiently

·Get your existing policies in order, collated and updated before you start

·Don’t just see it as getting a kite-mark – use it as an opportunity to assess and develop your program

·Make good use of the opportunity to seek advice and support from the VC network and other available resources.