Volunteer Rights Inquiry calls on organisations to raise standards of volunteer management
Wednesday, 02 March 2011
The Inquiry was set up in response to a number of reports of serious breaches of trust between volunteers and the organisations they volunteered for, and has carried out a wide-ranging consultation to investigate the scope of the problems experienced by volunteers.
Although it acknowledges the enormous efforts already made by organisations to improve the volunteering experience, the Inquiry believes a commitment to this call to action will raise standards of volunteer management, as well as addressing some of the concerns that it uncovered.
Sukhvinder Kaur-Stubbs, Chair of the Inquiry, said:
"The 3R Promise is an important step forward in improving conditions for volunteers where, in some instances, they fall short of expectation. This approach will ensure that any steps taken are proportionate to need; respect the reciprocity of volunteering; and promote parity of esteem between paid and volunteer staff.
"Wherever possible, the informal and voluntary nature of volunteering should be preserved and further red tape avoided, and we believe that the 3R Promise achieves this balance to the benefit of both volunteers and the organisations that they give their time to."
Organisations can visit www.volunteering.org.uk3rpromise
to read the full text of the Call to Action, including the 3R Promise, and to sign up and show their support for it online. Enquiries about the promise can be directed to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .A Call to Action Progress Group will be charged with taking the promise and the other outcomes from the inquiries forward and will report on progress in two years’ time.
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Notes to editors
The following organisations have already signed up to the 3R Promise:
- Association of Volunteer Managers
- Citizens Advice
- Cancer Research UK
- PDSA
- RSPB
- Scope
- St John Ambulance
- Voluntary Arts Network
- VSO UK
About the Inquiry
The Inquiry is an independent and impartial group chaired by Sukvinder Kaur-Stubbs (Chair, Volunteering England).
The members of the Inquiry provide a range of perspectives including those of campaigners for volunteer rights and volunteer welfare, volunteer managers, large volunteer involving organisations, infrastructure organisations and existing regulators.
The Inquiry was set up after a number of people raised concerns that volunteers have no rights in dealing with volunteer involving organisations when problems occur. Good practice in dealing with problems is often not applied or fails to resolve the situation; this has been demonstrated in a series of high profile cases.
The Inquiry provided a neutral space for the discussion and deliberation of the issues and concerns. It was a short, focused exploration of the issues and potential solutions around the subject of ‘volunteer rights,’ in particular regarding the relationship between volunteers and volunteer involving organisations in an increasingly complex field of volunteering activities.
For media enquires please contact Mike Locke on 020 7520 8930 / email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or John Brookes on 020 7520 8965 / email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
For more information please visit:
www.volunteering.org.uk3rpromise
2 March 2011
