19 January 2007
The introduction of a corporate style of management and training is good for the volunteering sector, according to a survey published today by Volunteering England, the national development agency for volunteers. Over 70% of visitors to the website voted in favour of the controversial move to confer a more professional status on volunteer managers, in spite of fears that this could damage the voluntary ethos of the sector.
The poll is published to coincide with Volunteering England’s Tools of the Trade events to be held in London and Leeds on 24 January and 20 February respectively, which will showcase the activities and offerings of the Volunteering Hub. Those keen to learn more about the resources available to those working with volunteers will be inspired by the series of workshops, including:
- An introduction to using the national Occupational Standards for Managing Volunteers
- The Investing in Volunteers toolkit
- The launch of the Excellence in Volunteer Management training programme.
Barbara Regnier, Director of Volunteering Management and Leadership at Volunteering England, said:
“In a world where success is increasingly measured by impact and output, it is essential that volunteer-involving organisations have sufficient resources and expertise to operate in a professional manner.
“Although some may object to what they see as a distancing from the sector’s core values, the reality is that professionalisation does not preclude passion. By investing in training and learning from others in the sector, those who work with volunteers can be confident that they are providing a quality service for those who benefit from their work without sacrificing the good intentions that lie at the heart of their cause.”
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Notes to Editors
- For more information on Volunteering England, call Cat Dean on 020 7520 8932 oremail cat.dean@volunteeringengland.org.For out of hours press enquiries, contact Sonya Roberts on 07952 128057.
- 699 people responded to a poll whose question was: “Is the professionalisation of volunteer managers good for the sector?” 71% responded yes, 29% responded no.
Case study 1:
Janet Langstreth, outreach worker, Volunteer Centre Bolton (Three full-time staff and 20 volunteers).
“I will be attending Tools of the Trade because I am interested in assessing and developing my skills, and I would also appreciate the opportunity to gain a nationally recognised qualification as it is one way of acknowledging the skills I have and work that I do. Plus I enjoy learning stuff!
“I’m also very keen to join the Excellence in Volunteer Management Programme as I believe volunteer managers can benefit hugely from developing and using a diverse range of skills. This is especially important now, as some aspects of volunteer management are becoming increasingly formalised and expectations of us – both within and outside the voluntary and community sector (VCS) – are changing.
“Some people claim that the formalisation of volunteer management detracts from the image of the well-intentioned “amateur” – but I think it remains about the person – which the VCS has always been. Being skilled doesn’t stop you caring – it just enables you to choose from a wider range of tools to do something about it proficiently.”
Case study 2:
Linda Harris, Community Affairs Programme Manager, Financial Services Authority and Learning Loops participant (800+ employees in volunteering schemes)
“Our staff mainly volunteer in Education, Employability and Regeneration within the East London in a variety of schemes such as mentoring, board positions and school governors.
“I am attending Learning Loops [part of the EVM programme] in order to network, work on issues relevant to all sectors, and to have an opportunity to discuss viewpoints from a different angle. I have enjoyed the sessions I have attended so far and have met some interesting people who have already given me advice on an issue I raised at our last meeting - I hope I also helped others. As the course goes on, I also hope to ascertain the value of what we as a corporate offer as well as having a personal learning experience.
“I do think it’s important to strike a balance, and that not too long is spent training or gaining accreditation at the extent of actually doing the volunteering itself. Within the FSA we have staff who volunteer just to give something back - not everyone wants recognition or development. The bottom line is, what do the charitable organisations want? Will it be a major consideration whether a company is accredited before they choose to accept help?”
