Butterwick Hospice

Name of Organisation

Butterwick Hospice

Why did you decide to go for Investing in Volunteers?

• To enable us to physically prove our commitment to the volunteering experience at Butterwick Hospice.

• To enable us to make sure we were following best practice in terms of our policies and procedures.

• To allow volunteers to be more involved in decision making and have appropriate forum for feedback.

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

• Greater clarity amongst staff, volunteers and partner agencies regarding the work we do in ensuring the environment is conducive to an enjoyable volunteering experience.

• Improved access to funding streams and grants.

• Confounded our belief that our policies / procedures etc are following best practice guidelines.

• Acknowledgement for the hard work that the Voluntary Services Team and its many volunteers carry out.

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

• The assessor was helpful and approachable at each stage.

• The assessor eases you into the assessment period and ensures that everyone involved is comfortable with it.

• The assessment proved to be an enjoyable experience for all involved.

• The assessor makes you aware that they are there to gain a try picture of the organisation and not trying to pick fault. It is a productive, though occasionally demanding process.

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

• Give yourself the time you need to be aware of the structure of your organisation and individual department before you start the assessment process.

• Ask as many questions as you need to of your assessor at the initial ‘brainstorming’ meeting.

• Make use of your local Volunteer Centre for advice and information about the process.

• Don’t rush – use your time wisely and make sure you are confident with the improvements you plan to make before you proceed to the next stage of the assessment.

• Make sure you keep everyone in your organisation aware of what is happening at every stage of the assessment.