For immediate release
Barclays and Leonard Cheshire Disability (LCD) have simultaneously achieved accreditation for their volunteering programme in a unique tripartite pilot project. As a result of the new initiative, subsidised by Volunteering England, the bank achieved the Investing in Volunteers for Employers quality mark at the same time as their charity partner being awarded Investing in Volunteers. Both parties worked with trained IiV assessors and were advised throughout the process by Volunteer Centre Westminster.
Ready to Start (RTS), helps disabled people who want to start their own businesses by pairing them with a business mentor or ‘buddy’. Launched in 2006, the scheme is on track to achieve its three-year target of supporting 600 successful new business ventures. It currently involves over 180 volunteers and has been so successful that one business mentor has entered into a business partnership with his mentee entrepreneur.
Alan Hands, Sponsorship and Donations Manager at Barclays said:
‘’Our research has found that people who volunteer are more likely to stay with the bank, rise through the ranks, and recommend working here to their friends. We also know volunteering is a great tool for retaining staff, and also improving their morale. So for us achieving the IiVE quality mark isn’t just a sign that we’re on the right track as an organisation, but shows we’re making an important investment in our organisation.
“It’s been a very positive exercise for us. It is useful for a large company to focus on a specific programme and to get feedback from a variety of sources. I’d definitely recommend that other companies go for it - it’s good to get that external feedback that you’re doing things well.”
Udeni Salmon, head of volunteer support at Leonard Cheshire Disability, said:
“It’s been really good to have a holistic view of our volunteer programme that we might not have achieved had we gone through IiV alone. I am confident it will enhance our funding bids, but more importantly, it acknowledges what a great job our volunteer coordinators are doing – it’s really improved their motivation.”
Sonet Geyer, Investing in Volunteers manager at Volunteering England, said:
“This pilot has proved to be an excellent way of providing evidence that employer-supported volunteers are well-managed by their charity partners. I’m delighted that both Barclays and Leonard Cheshire Disability have achieved their respective quality accreditation and can be reassured they are maximising their positive impact on their communities.
“I feel very encouraged by the success of this project and hope that other corporates and their chosen charity partners will decide that their volunteers are worth the investment in obtaining the quality standards.”
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Notes to editors
- For more information or interviews please contact Mary Ann Day on 020 7520 8932 or email maryann.day@volunteeringengland.org.
- Volunteering England aims to improve the quality, quantity, impact and accessibility of volunteering throughout England. For more information please visit www.volunteering.org.uk
- IiV and IiVE are UK-wide schemes, coordinated in England by Volunteering England; in Wales by Wales Council for Voluntary Action; in Scotland by Volunteer Development Scotland; and in Northern Ireland by Volunteer Development Agency. The project was initially funded by Capacitybuilders and delivered through the Volunteering Hub
- Ready to Start from Leonard Cheshire Disability, in partnership with Barclays will seek to enable 600 disabled people to start their own business over three years. Disabled clients will receive equipment, training and support and will be matched with a mentor from Barclays. A community investment of over £3m is being provided to enable Leonard Cheshire Disability to deliver this programme. Over three years, local programmes will be rolled out in 27 towns and cities across England and Wales
- Leonard Cheshire Disability supports over 21,000 disabled people in the UK and work in 52 countries. We campaign for change and provide innovative services that give disabled people the opportunity to live life their way
- Barclays is a major global financial services provider engaged in retail and commercial banking, credit cards, investment banking, wealth management and investment management services, with an extensive international presence in Europe, the USA, Africa and Asia. With over 300 years of history and expertise in banking, Barclays operates in over 50 countries and employs 143,000 people. Barclays moves, lends, invests and protects money for over 38 million customers and clients worldwide.
