Approach to Volunteers
Successful volunteering programmes:
- Actively look for volunteers from as wide a community as they can
- Have flexibility for volunteers to work at times and in ways that suit them.
- Have well defined volunteering roles descriptions detailing skills required with clear time commitments
- Good training and support for their volunteers.
- Engage and touch base with them often gathering and acting on feedback
- Important to be clear what they will get out of the arrangement.
The SBU recognises these points, so we have developed this approach to volunteering.
We prepare carefully:
- with good definitions of what we would like volunteers to do that include the time commitment and skills required
- have a plan for communicating with, training and supporting volunteers
- listen to the volunteers' requirements, understanding why they are interested in volunteering, their skills and availability
- be flexible about how a role is performed to accommodate volunteers' abilities, availability, and preferences.
When we engage the volunteers, we:
- treat them with respect
- honour the commitments we make about time commitment, training and support
- establish an encouraging environment that gives positive feedback and is tolerant of mistakes.
- make it clear what they will get from the arrangement
- communicate with them regularly
- recognise their work and achievements