The Children’s Society PAR Project

Name of Organisation

The Children’s Society PAR Project

Why did you decide to go for Investing in Volunteers?

As a project, we had undertaken significant development work of our Independent Visitors Scheme, over the previous year. These developments enabled us to seriously consider working towards achieving the standard, as they involved a review of the Scheme’s policies, procedures, training and support of volunteers.

The volunteers, who act as Independent Visitors to children in care, show tremendous commitment to the project and support to the individual young person they are matched with. This standard enabled this to be recognised and was one way of acknowledging the important contribution volunteers make to the project and hopefully encourage more to become involved in the future.

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

It gave us an opportunity to look at specific areas of work and review systems. It also gave volunteers an opportunity to be involved in the work of the project and the knowledge that their contributions and feedback are acted upon. The wider organisation’s revised Volunteer Policy has now been implemented, in line with our project working towards achieving the Investing in Volunteers Standard, and ‘roll-out’ of the standard across the organisation is now being considered.

How did the assessment work in your organisation?

It worked well and having formed a steering group of volunteers and staff, to work towards achieving the standard, we were assessed within 6 months of starting it.

The assessment day went well, with our assessor interviewing volunteers, staff and senior management. I was interviewed for approx. 2 hours over the course of the day but wasn’t really asked to show any paper evidence. We were then awarded the Investing in Volunteers Standard within two months of the assessment day.

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

• Form a steering group to work towards achieving the Standard

• Ensure you have an up to date Volunteer Policy

• Work with and consult volunteers throughout the process

• Use the support and advice given by your assessor

• Don’ panic!