Scottish Refugee Council

Name of Organisation

Why did you decide to go for Investing in Volunteers?

Voluntarism is a key principle of our strategic plan and within the subsequent operational plans many of our objectives also relate to promoting meaningful volunteering. This involves both creating opportunities for indigenous Scots (thereby developing awareness of asylum issues and skills) and refugees (addressing isolation, harnessing and developing skills and ensuring that our ethos ‘working with and for refugees’ is met), overall promoting integration.

We already work to a number of quality frameworks and Investing in Volunteers was seen as a clear goal to further develop our own internal quality agenda.

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

IiV has provided a clear framework to take forward volunteering both practically and strategically. It has ensured that we develop volunteering in a meaningful manner: removing barriers to this whilst prompting us to be creative in how we continue to work in this area.

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

The assessment process was comprehensive: underpinned by ongoing dialogue and support. The process itself was not intrusive but allowed for reflective practice and opportunities to address any weaknesses or institutional barriers. The assessment process allowed for volunteering to take root within our organisation and flourish, and be recognised as a key component not just as the ‘added value’ it is commonly held to bring

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

·Ensure that working with and supporting volunteers is mentioned in all job descriptions

·Create a cross departmental internal working group to take work forward and ensure that volunteering is discussed at all team meetings either as updates or specific agenda items

·Identify volunteering champions at all levels – board/trustee, senior management etc.

·Identify peer organisations who have achieved IiV or are in the process of doing so and share knowledge and experience

·Ensure that equality and diversity issues are anchored within this work and creative solutions are sought to any barriers or inequalities e.g. perhaps volunteering workshops/ courses can be run alongside volunteering recruitment to ensure understanding of what committing as a volunteer means or requires