Good IDEAS Toolkit

For community groups, organisations and charities who have volunteers..

WELCOME

We hope this tool kit will help you consider how you can make volunteering with your organisation more inclusive. We will identify and explore best practice, barriers to participation, communication, promotion, hints and tips, supervision and support.

DEFINITION

So, What is Supported Volunteering?

For the purpose of this toolkit, we are defining supported volunteering as providing levels of support appropriate to the needs of volunteers to enable them to engage in volunteering.

What does IDEAS represent?

Inclusion
Diversity
Equality
Access
Suggestions

Introduction

The motto used by Volunteer Centres and volunteer-involving organisations(VIOs) fits into what this tool kit seeks to address, that

“ Volunteering is for all” and “Anybody can be a volunteer”.

The goal is to provide basic resourceful principles that support all volunteers from a person-centred approach. Everybody needs some support, though levels will differ. Consider the benefits of why you should make your volunteering offer more inclusive.

Are there things that might be stopping people from engaging with your group/organisation? Can you identify possible support needs that might prevent a potential volunteer from coming forward?

The Benefits of Supported Volunteering to Volunteers

Improve connection to & awareness of community & social issues.
Create employment and long-term volunteering.
Offer relevant work experience, enhance skills & career prospects.
Raise aspirations & promotion of personal resilience.
Build new skills & networks.
Facilitate meeting a wider range of people.
Increase self-esteem and confidence.
Provide higher levels of life satisfaction.
Contribute to overall wellbeing.
Promote independence and a sense of responsibility.
Instil a sense of self-worth and belonging to a community.
Promote independence and empowerment of volunteers to enjoy what they do.

The Benefits of Supported Volunteering to Organisations

Bring energy, enthusiasm, new ideas & commitment.
Create employment and long-term volunteering.
Promote a variety of opportunities.
Embrace a range of talents & skills.
Give a voice to young people.
Help recruit other young people
Promote a variety of opportunities
Develop a long-term connection within the supported volunteering network.
Raise awareness of supported volunteering using appropriate media.
Help develop partnerships & networks with other organisations that support young people.
Champion the work to a wider audience, parents, residents etc.

Basic Principles of Supported Volunteering

Have face to face contact with the prospective volunteer to ask them what they want.
Treat volunteers with respect.
Plan with each individual to discover what they need.
Focus on strengths, abilities, skills, aspirations.
Tailor solutions for each individual that confer feelings of self-worth as well as making a contribution to the community.
Include the wider family/carers of each supported volunteer in the recruitment process.
Adopt a holistic approach in assessing the aspirations of each volunteer.

What is a Person-Centred Approach?

Check what matters to people: Volunteers should be at the centre of decision-making with emphasis on what they can do. At this initial stage, an organisation will learn about what matters to an individual, how they want to be treated and the language they use.
Where we are now: This is where the charity recruiting the volunteer will have a chat with the volunteer and find out what their current situation is, comparing it with any potential volunteering roles.
Prioritising: Having identified potential roles, create a list of options for discussion.
What is getting in the way?: At this stage, any barriers to volunteering should be identified and acknowledged so that wherever possible, the relevant support can be provided. There may be a need to signpost to other organisations.
Creating clear goals/ steps and actions: The applicant is now empowered to create a set of goals or steps to address the barriers identified and go ahead with their outcomes.
Record in the plan: Finally, agree on a review date to talk about progress with the volunteer and any other support needed. Transparency and accountability should be encouraged and ongoing learning captured.