Volunteer Centre Merton

Name of Organisation

Volunteer Centre Merton

Why did you decide to go for Investing in Volunteers?

To re-accredit, having achieved the standard as part of the original pilot and as an example to other volunteer-involving organisations in Merton.

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

We have thoroughly updated all our volunteering policies and procedures, but much of this work had already been undertaken to achieve IIP and VCQA.

How did the assessment work in your organisation?

Very well, interviews really show how well the organisation is working. They are more revealing than documents.

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

• Get a Good Practice Health check from your local Volunteer Centre to help you see how much / little work you will need to do.
• Do not try to re-write everything for the Self-Assessment, the whole idea is to work through it in the Development Plan
• Involve volunteers in reviewing or writing policies
• Remember to inform existing volunteers about new or updated policies
• Group discussions go better with good refreshments!