Kent Union

Name of Organisation

Kent Union

Why did you decide to go for Investing in Volunteers?

• A chance for an in-depth look at our own systems and procedures and compare to best practice
• A chance to bring the Department together
• A chance to standardise practices
• Ensured we were working towards the Vision and Values statement / the right strategic direction
• Re-emphasised our own internal focus on volunteering
• In light of the Russell Commissions recommendations on funding towards organisations with IIV Status

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

• Working together as a team
• Unification as a Department
• Closer to student volunteers
• Highlighted areas for improvement
• Bought home the importance of managing volunteers
• Standardisation of volunteering information and improved access to information

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

• Our assessor, Maggie, was excellent. Extremely helpful, easy to het hold of, prompt in response, good at clarifying details. It was extremely useful that Maggie tool the time to get to know our organisation well before the assessment dates in terms of it’s unique structures.
• Evidence notes / website were really useful (when we used the website).
• Development plan and standards were easy to navigate and understand.
• Clear language, easy to apply and good templates – well structured - made action planning easier.
• Very flexible on assessment dates – well structured, very easy to prepare for assessment days.
• Useful to meet with assessor at the end of the two days to discuss how the assessment has gone.
• Strategic documents – good judge of whether or not you are ready for IIV. Gave you a different perspective of volunteering.

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

• A working group looking at the process that includes Student Volunteers is essential
• Re-visit the Self Assessment regularly, and ensure that the Development plan moves forward
• Ownership is needed from the entire organisation, and the volunteers, and all need to understand the benefits of achieving it.
• Can’t be driven by just one person.
• Get funding!