Tower Hamlets Youth and Community Service

Name of Organisation

Why did you decide to go for Investing in Volunteers?

To formally underpin our volunteering policy

To formally recognise the vital role of volunteers within Youth and Community Service

To enhance the recruitment and retention of volunteers

To demonstrate Tower Hamlets Youth and Community Service’s commitment to volunteering

We see the award as something that adds value and makes our organisation more attractive to volunteers.

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

·Step back and take a fresh look at the volunteering culture

·An opportunity to highlight the importance of volunteers at every level

·Opportunity to review our policies and procedures together in a representative subgroup

·Identify and address any gaps that were in our volunteering infrastructure

·Gain support and commitment to the management of volunteering

·Opportunity to compare against a set of standards

·Volunteers not at the strategic level of the organisation were given the opportunity to be involved in this process

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

We set up a steering group which included senior and middle managers, youth and community workers and volunteers as well as specialist advisors such as Union and HR representatives.

The self assessment was a valuable process; it helped us to focus on the way we communicate with our volunteers, it inspired us to be creative in the way we share information including policy, procedures and information amongst staff and to the volunteers.

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

·Make use of the online resources on the IiV webpage

·Speak to those organisations who have already received the IiV Award

·Make sure you have a strong commitment form senior managers

·Set a realistic timeline to achieve the IiV

·Regular meeting to update and inform