If you would like to share you experience of EVM or simply feedback to us please email your comments to evm@volunteeringengland.org. We look forward to hearing from you.
Here's what previous participants had to say.
Eleanor Williams, Mentoring Manger with the Coventry Youth Offending Service
'I choose to do the EVM award because I was finding it difficult to identify a ‘professional’ level course in Volunteer management, there doesn’t seem to be very available that focuses entirely on managing volunteers. The course content for the Excellence in Volunteer Management programme looked very interesting and relevant to my role.
I decided to take the distance learning option because it is so convenient. You can study at your own pace, with no lectures to attend on specific dates, so it is much more flexible. There is of course a downside too, keeping motivated and feeling a bit isolated with no opportunity to chat with other learners or bounce ideas around. However I had done some distance learning before, so I prepared for that.
I found the level of the content just fine, there was enough new material to keep me challenged, overall the level was just right for me however it does depend on experience. I think that there are a good range of topics to suit different people.
I would say that the best thing about the programme is definitely the relevance to my role. I am already implementing what I have learnt and will continue to do so.
I would advise other managers of volunteers who are considering the distance learning approach to be prepared for the amount of reading required and not to under estimate the amount of time that it will take to do, it requires more than odd couple of hours here and there and you do need some full study days to get through it. People who are new to the role of volunteer manager may find it better to do the Award with group workshops.'
- Eleanor achieved the EVM Endorsed Award studying by distance learning through JLJ Associates.
Becky Underwood, Regional Development Officer Sports Volunteering
Volunteering North West Limited
'I attended the EVM course from May 2007 to April 2008 at Winwick, Warrington. EVM gave me the opportunity to look at how I work, learn about different styles and models and apply what works best for me, thus making me more efficient, if I am struggling with something now I refer to the relevant workshop to see if there is something that might help.
By attending the course I recognised the potential application in my own sector. In the future we would like to promote the course and secure funding so as many sport volunteer managers can attend this course as possible as there is a lack of this level of training in the sector. At a more personal level I am looking into the possibility of SVNW getting Investors In Volunteers.
This course is actually excellent value for money when it is compared to similar courses in the private sector, any initial outlay will be recouped when the learning is put into practice and organisations become more effective.'
- Becky attended an EVM programme run by Volunteer Centre Warrington
Mega Arumugam, Vounteer Coordinator
Domestic Violence Integrated Response Project Leicester
'I enrolled on the course within 2 months of starting my job.As someone without a management background, I’ve found the programme to be really beneficial in helping me settle into my role as well as learning generic management skills.The course itself is well structured with wide range of modules.
The workload is manageable and I spend around 2-4 hours a week reviewing the study materials.The open-programme itself is structured in a way that encourages both active and reflective learning. It uses interactive teaching methods and practical applications such as case studies and group work to further enhance the learning process. The class is of reasonable size and the diversity of the participants and their experiences allow for maximum networking and opportunities to learn from each other. The training facilitators have a very supportive and professional approach in facilitating the course, and have managed to engage us all together brilliantly.
The course also requires successful completion of an assessed work-based assignment which involves researching and addressing an issue in the work-place, and having started some work around this project, I feel that I am integrating the knowledge gained from the taught modules into my work, and this clearly demonstrates the need to be able to apply practical learning from the course.More recently, using the learning, I have been able to develop effective volunteer policies and work practices within the volunteering programme in my organisation. I have also applied the learning from theories of motivation to develop effective tools in supporting and developing the volunteers in my organisation to the extent that a recent volunteers’ evaluation indicated that volunteers feel that they are well supported and able to develop confidently within the organisation.I also feel better equipped with knowledge around the law relating to volunteers and in carrying out appropriate risk assessments.
The course has most certainly contributed to my career development and effective work practices. Successful completion of the course will also allow me to remain competitive in the management field especially in the third sector.The course does require a degree of commitment and disciplin to maximise the learning outcomes, but then anything worthwhile always does!
Thank you to Volunteering England for putting together a timely and brilliant programme, which highlights and enhances the value of good and effective volunteer management, and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to excel and remain competitive in this area of work. '
Mega attended an open EVM course to achieve the endorsed award run by Maggie Piazza and Felicity Dwyer
